Plant growth-promoting microbes, compositions, and uses

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), compositions comprising these PGPMs and methods of using these PGPMs and/or compositions for enhancing plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield, and/or for preventing, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or the development of phytopathogenic diseases. This application also provides non-naturally occurring plant varieties that are artificially infected with a PGPM descried herein, as well as seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues, plant parts, or progeny thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 15/511,533filed on Mar. 15, 2017, which claims priority to PCT/US2015/049636 filedon Sep. 11, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/113,107 filed Feb. 6, 2015, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/080,143 filed Nov. 14, 2014, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication 62/052,765 filed Sep. 9, 2014, each of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

This application relates to microbial strains, compositions and methodsuseful for enhancing plant growth or yield and/or for suppressing thedevelopment of plant pathogens and phytopathogenic diseases.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS A TEXT FILE VIA EFS-WEB

The Sequence Listing created on Aug. 18, 2015 as a text file named“6824_Seq_List.txt,” and having a size of 110542 bytes is herebyincorporated by reference pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.52(e)(5).

BACKGROUND

Plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), such as plant growth-promotingrhizobacteria (PGPR), have gained worldwide importance and acceptancefor agricultural benefits. PGPMs can affect plant growth by differentdirect and indirect mechanisms. Some examples of these mechanisms, whichcan be active simultaneously or sequentially at the same or differentstages of plant growth, include (1) increased mineral nutrientsolubilization and nitrogen fixation (i.e., making nutrients moreavailable for the plant); (2) repression of soilborne pathogens (e.g.,by the production of hydrogen cyanide, siderophores, antibiotics, and/orcompetition for nutrients); (3) improving plant stress tolerance todrought, flooding, salinity, and metal toxicity; and (4) production ofphytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Moreover, some PGPMsproduce the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase,which hydrolyses 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), the immediateprecursor of ethylene in plants. By lowering ethylene concentration inseedlings and thus its inhibitory effect, these PGPMs stimulate the rootlength of seedlings. Some exemplary groups of PGPMs can be found amongthe phyla: Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, andProteobacteria. There is a considerable amount of ongoing scientificresearch directed to understanding PGPMs, including the aspects of theiradaptation, effects on plant physiology and growth, induced systemicresistance, biocontrol of plant pathogens, bio-fertilization, viabilityof co-inoculation, interactions with plant microorganisms, andmechanisms of root colonization.

By virtue of their rapid rhizosphere colonization and stimulation ofplant growth and/or yield, there is currently considerable interest inexploiting PGPMs to improve crop production. In fact, the inoculation ofcultivated plants with PGPMs is currently considered a promisingagricultural approach. As environmental concerns increase, e.g.,concerns about groundwater quality with excess fertilizer and pesticideexposure in foods, biological alternatives are promising and becomingnecessary. Thus, developing biological treatments compatible withfertilizers and pesticides and/or even reducing the amount of thesechemical compounds used could be a significant advancement in theagricultural industry.

However, there is a lack of efficient screening and selection proceduresfor obtaining microbial strains that have plant health/growth/yieldpromoting abilities. There is also a lack of efficient selection methodsfor obtaining combinations of microbial stains (or microbial consortia)that interact synergistically in the context of promoting plant health,growth and/or yield. The lack of such screening and/or selectionprocedures, unfortunately, slows down the study of plant-bacterialsymbioses, and the deployment of new PGPMs in agriculture. Therefore,there is a continuing and pressing need for the identification of newPGPMs, PGPM synthetic consortia, and/or testing of their compatibilitywith existing commercially available crop management products.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of this application address the aforementioned need byproviding new microbial strains (PGPMs), isolates, cultures,compositions, synthetic consortia, and methods useful for enhancing thehealth, growth and/or yield of a plant. Other aspects of the presentembodiments provide methods for identifying microbial consortiacomprising two or more PGPMs useful for promoting plant health, growthand/or yield. Also provided are methods for the treatment of plant seedsby using the microbial strains (PGPMs), isolates, cultures orcompositions disclosed herein. Further provided are methods forpreventing, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogensor the development of phytopathogenic diseases. This application alsoprovides non-naturally occurring plant varieties that are artificiallyinfected with at least one microbial endophyte disclosed herein. Otherembodiments provide seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue,regenerative tissues, plant parts, or progeny of the non-naturallyoccurring plant varieties. Other embodiments further provide a methodfor preparing agricultural compositions.

Other embodiments provide isolated microbial strains (PGPMs), isolatedcultures thereof, biologically pure cultures thereof, and enrichedcultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial strain comprises a16S rRNA gene comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ IDNos.: 1-164. In some embodiments, the microbial strain comprises a 16SrRNA gene comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 5,6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64,68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123,124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141,142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156, 158, and 159. In someembodiments, the microbial strain comprises a 16S rRNA gene comprising anucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47,52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141,143, 145, 150, 155, and 158. In some embodiments, the microbial straincomprises a 16S rRNA gene comprising a nucleotide sequence selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112,115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151, and 159. Insome embodiments, the microbial strain comprises a 16S rRNA genecomprising a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123,126, 131, and 149. In some embodiments, the microbial strain comprises a16S rRNA gene comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ IDNos.: 133, 134 and 138. In some embodiments, a 16S rRNA gene of themicrobial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, at least 99.5%, or at least 99.9% sequence identity to any one ofthe nucleotide sequences as set forth in any one of the SEQ ID Nos.:1-164. Some embodiments provide a genus of microorganisms comprising anyof the DNA sequences described above and which enhances the health,growth and/or yield of a plant, as described herein. In someembodiments, the microbial strain is P0032_C7, P0048_B9, P0050_F5 (alsoreferred to as S2199), P0035_B2 (also referred to as S2145, NRRL DepositNo. B-67091), P0020_B1, P0047_A1 (also referred to as S2284, NRRLDeposit No. B-67102), P0033_E1 (also referred to as S2177), P0032_A8(also referred to as S2181, NRRL Deposit No. B-67099), P0049_E7,P0042_A8 (also referred to as S2167), P0042_D5 (also referred to asS2165), P0042_B2 (also referred to as S2168, NRRL Deposit No. B-67096),P0042_B12 (also referred to as S2189), P0042_C2 (also referred to asS2173, NRRL Deposit No. B-67098), P0042_D10 (also referred to as S2172,NRRL Deposit No. B-67097), P0044_A3 (also referred to as S2476),P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1,P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67092),S2161_P0054_E8 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67094), S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3(also referred to as S2160, NRRL Deposit No. B-67093), S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67095), P0147_D10 (also referred toas S2291, NRRL Deposit No. B-67104), P0147_G10 (also referred to asS2292, NRRL Deposit No. B-67105), P0160_F7 (also referred to as S2351),P0140_C10 (also referred to as S2300, NRRL Deposit No. B-67107), S2387,P0157_G5 (also referred to as S2303, NRRL Deposit No. B-67108), P0160_E1(also referred to as S2374), P0134_G7 (also referred to as S2280), S2384(NRRL Deposit No. B-67112), S2275 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67101), S2278,S2373 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67109), S2370, S2293 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67106) S2382 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67111), P0132_A12, P0132_C12,P0140_D9, P0173_H3 (also referred to as S2404), S2385 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67113), S2197 (NRRL Deposit No. 67100), S2285 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67103), S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330,S2423 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67115), S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521,S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67114), P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67090), S2375 (NRRL Deposit No. B-67110), and S2669 (NRRL Deposit No.B-67117), S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644 (NRRLDeposit No. B-67116), S2328, S2646, or a strain derived from any one ofthese strains.

Another embodiment provides a microbial composition that comprises amicrobial strain (PGPM), such as a microbial strain selected from thosedescribed herein, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofsaid strain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, 53,56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138,139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156, and159, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofsaid strain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111,114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155 and 158, or aculture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said straincomprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120,125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151, 159, 160, 161, 162,163 and 164, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofsaid strain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbial strain,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and 138, or a culturethereof. Any of the above microbial compositions may optionally furthercomprise a second microbial strain whose 16S rRNA gene sequencecomprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51,54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81,84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121,122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162,163 and 164, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said at least two microbial strains comprises asequence independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50,51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75 76, 77, 80,81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121,122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162,163 and 164, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 4,5, 6, 10, 12, 50, 55, 56, and 57, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 35,46, 47, 48, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74, or a culturethereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 62, 63, and 64, or a culturethereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 19,36, 37, 75, and 76, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 13,58, 59, 60, and 61, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38,39, 40, 43, 44, 45, and 77, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 3, 4,7, 8, 51, 52, 53, 134, and 135, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 14, 16,78, 79, and 80, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 44,45, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145 and 146, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 24, 86,87, and 88, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52,53, 81, 82 and 83, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52,53, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145, 146, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 orS2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 orS2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 orS2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173,P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2,P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1,S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160,S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 orS2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303,P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370,S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385,S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327,S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2,P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112,S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644,S2328 and S2646 or a strain derived therefrom, or a culture thereof.

Other embodiments provide a composition comprising a synthetic microbialconsortium. In some embodiments, a synthetic consortium comprises a) afirst set of microbes comprising one or more microbes that promote planthealth, growth, and/or yield; and b) a second set of microbes comprisingone or more microbes that increase the competitive fitness of the firstset of microbes in a); wherein the first and the second sets of microbesare combined into a single mixture as a synthetic consortium. In someembodiments, the synthetic consortium or a composition promotes orenhances plant health, growth and/or yield. In some embodiments, thesynthetic consortium or a composition thereof according to the presentapplication is applied to a plant (or a part thereof), a seed, or aseedling.

In some embodiments, a microbial composition as described herein, suchas any of the microbial compositions described above and below, furthercomprises an agriculturally effective amount of a compound orcomposition selected from, but not limited to, a nutrient, a fertilizer,an acaricide, a bactericide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a microbicide,a nematicide, and a pesticide and combinations thereof. In someembodiments of the microbial compositions described herein, themicrobial composition further comprises a carrier, such as (but notlimited to) an organic or an inorganic carrier and combinations thereof.In some embodiments, the carriers suitable for the microbialcompositions include, but are not limited to, silt, peat, turf, talc,lignite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, zeolite, montmorillonite, alginate,press mud, sawdust and vermiculite and combinations thereof. In someembodiments, the carrier is a plant seed. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition is prepared as a formulation selected from, butnot limited to, an emulsion, a colloid, a dust, a granule, a pellet, apowder, a spray, and a solution. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition described herein is a seed coating formulation.

Other embodiments provide a plant seed treatment having a coatingcomprising a microbial strain (PGPM) or a culture thereof as describedherein. Also provided is a plant having a coating comprising a microbialcomposition as described herein.

Other embodiments provide a method of preparing a synthetic microbialconsortium, comprising a) selecting a first set of microbes comprisingone or more microbes that promote plant health, growth, and/or yield; b)selecting a second set of microbes comprising one or more microbes thatincrease the competitive fitness of the first set of microbes in stepa); and c) combining these microbes into a single mixture anddesignating the combination as a synthetic consortium. In someembodiments, the method comprises a further step of applying thesynthetic consortium as described herein to a plant (or a part thereof),a seed, or a seedling. The present embodiments also provide a syntheticmicrobial consortium prepared as described herein. The presentembodiments further provide a method of promoting plant health, plantgrowth and/or plant yield, comprising applying a synthetic microbialconsortium prepared as described herein to a plant, a plant part, or theplant's surroundings.

Other embodiments provide a method for treating plant seeds or seedpriming. In some embodiments, the method includes exposing or contactingthe plant seed with a microbial strain (PGPM) according to the presentembodiments or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the methodincludes exposing or contacting the plant seed with a microbialcomposition according to the present embodiments.

Other embodiments provide a method for enhancing the health, growthand/or yield of a plant. In some embodiments, such method involvesapplying an effective amount of a microbial strain (PGPM), or a culturethereof to the plant, a plant part, or to the plant's surroundings. Insome embodiments, such method involves applying an effective amount of amicrobial composition to the plant or the plant's surroundings. In someembodiments, the method involves growing one or more microbial strainsin a growth medium or soil of a host plant or plant part prior to orconcurrent with the host plant's growth in said growth medium or soil.In some embodiments of the above method, a microbial strain (PGPM) isapplied to the plant, plant part, or to the plant's surroundings (e.g.,immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) in a culture or a compositionaccording to the present embodiments at a concentration that is at least2×, 5×, 10×, 100×, 500×, or 1000× the concentration of the samemicrobial strain found or detected in an untreated control plant, plantpart, or the control plant's surroundings, respectively. In someembodiments, upon or after application, the concentration of themicrobial strain (PGPM) in the treated plant, plant part, or the plant'ssurroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) is at least 2×,5×, 10×, 100×, 500×, or 1000× the concentration of the same microbialstrain found or detected in an untreated control plant, plant part, orthe control plant's surroundings. In some embodiments of the abovemethod, a microbial strain (PGPM) is applied to the plant, plant part,or to the plant's surroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer orrhizosphere) in a culture or a composition at a concentration that ishigher than 1×10² CFU/mL. In some embodiments, concentration ranges arefrom about 1×10² to about 1×10¹⁰ CFU/mL, such as the concentrationsranging from 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁹ CFU/mL. In some embodiments, application ofa microbial strain (PGPM) as described herein to a plant, plant part, orto the plant's surroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere)in a culture or a composition at a concentration that is at least 1×10⁶CFU/mL leads to a concentration of the microbial strain in the treatedplant, plant part or the plant's surroundings that is at least 2× theamount of the strain found in an untreated plant or its surroundings.

In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are established asendophytes on the plant, after being applied to the plant, plant part,or to the plant's surroundings. In some embodiments, one or moremicrobial strains are established as endophytes on the plant in thereproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues, plantparts, and/or progeny thereof. In some embodiments, one or moremicrobial strains are established as endophytes in the seed offspring ofthe plant that is exposed to or treated with a microbial strain,isolate, culture, or composition as described herein. Some embodimentsrelate to a plant, plant part, or a seed that is infected with at leastone microbial strain as described herein.

Other embodiments provide a method for preventing, inhibiting ortreating the development of a pathogenic disease of a plant or thedevelopment of a plant pest, insect, or pathogen. In some embodiments,such method involves applying an effective amount of a microbial strain(PGPM), or a culture thereof to the plant, plant part, or to the plant'ssurroundings. In some embodiments, such method involves applying aneffective amount of a microbial composition to the plant, plant part, orthe plant's surroundings. In some embodiments, the method involvesgrowing one or more microbial strains in a growth medium or soil of ahost plant prior to or concurrent with the host plant growth in saidgrowth medium or soil. In some embodiments of the above method, amicrobial strain (PGPM) is applied to the plant (or a part thereof) orto the plant's surroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere)in a culture or a composition at a concentration that is at least 2×,5×, 10×, 100×, 500×, or 1000× the concentration of the same microbialstrain found or detected in an untreated control plant, plant part, orthe control plant's surroundings, respectively. In some embodiments,upon or after application, the concentration of the microbial strain(PGPM) in the treated plant (or a part thereof) or the plant'ssurroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) is at least 2×,5×, 10×, 100×, 500×, or 1000× the concentration of the same microbialstrain found or detected in an untreated control plant, plant part, orthe control plant's surroundings. In some embodiments of the abovemethod, a microbial strain (PGPM) is applied to the plant, plant part,or to the plant's surroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer orrhizosphere) in a culture or a composition at a concentration that ishigher than 1×10² CFU/mL. In some embodiments, the concentration rangesfrom about 1×10² to about 1×10¹⁰ CFU/mL, such as concentrations rangingfrom 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁹ CFU/mL. In some embodiments, application of amicrobial strain (PGPM) to a plant, plant part, or to the plant'ssurroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) in a culture ora composition at a concentration that is at least 1×10⁶ CFU/mL leads toa concentration of the microbial strain in the treated plant, plant partor the plant's surroundings that is at least 2× the amount of the strainfound in an untreated plant or its surroundings.

In some embodiments a method comprising one or more microbial strainsare established as endophytes on the plant, after being applied to theplant, plant part or to the plant's surroundings. In some embodiments,one or more microbial strains are established as endophytes on the plantin the reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues,plant parts, and/or progeny thereof. In some embodiments, one or moremicrobial strains are established as endophytes in the pollen of theplant. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains areestablished as endophytes in the seed offspring of the plant that isexposed to or treated with a microbial strain, isolate, culture, orcomposition as described herein. In some embodiments, the development ofa pathogenic disease of a plant, or plant part, that may be prevented,inhibited, or treated by a microbial strain, isolate, culture, orcomposition according to the present embodiments, is caused by a plantpathogen selected from, but not limited to, Colletotrichum, Fusarium,Gibberella, Monographella, Penicillium, Pythium, Xanthomonas, Ralstoniaand Stagnospora organisms. In some embodiments, the pathogen whosedevelopment may be prevented, inhibited or treated by a microbial strainor a culture thereof, or a microbial composition, according to thepresent embodiments, is selected from, but not limited to,Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Monographella, Penicillium,Pythium, Xanthomonas, Ralstonia, and Stagnospora organisms.

Other embodiments provide a non-naturally occurring plant. In someembodiments, the non-naturally occurring plant is artificially infectedwith one or more microbial strains (PGPMs) according to the presentembodiments. Further provided in some embodiments of this aspect is aplant seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissue,plant part or progeny of the non-naturally occurring plant.

Other embodiments provide a method for preparing an agriculturalcomposition. Such methods involve inoculating the microbial strain, anisolate or a culture thereof, or a microbial composition, according tothe present embodiments, into or onto a substratum and allowing it togrow.

Certain Embodiments Include

1. An isolated microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of saidstrain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, 53, 56,57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138,139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156, 158,and 159.2. An enriched culture of a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA geneof said strain comprises a sequence selected from the group consistingof SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52,53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114,115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135,138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156,158, and 159.3. An isolated culture of a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA geneof said strain comprises a sequence selected from the group consistingof SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52,53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114,115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135,138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156,158 and 159.4. A biologically pure culture of a microbial strain, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45,47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132,133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150,151, 155, 156, 158 and 159.5. The culture according to any one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71,78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155,and 158.6. The culture according to any one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72,79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151,156, and 159.7. An isolated microbial strain selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 orS2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 orS2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 orS2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189,P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11,P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8,P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 orS2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 orS2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373,S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404,S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329,S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473,P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1,S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668,S2644, S2328, and S2646 or a strain derived therefrom.8. An isolated culture of a microbial strain selected from P0032_C7,P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1,P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7,P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 orS2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476,P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1,P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4,P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291,P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387,P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275,S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9,P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424,S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332,S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5,P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654,S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, and S2646 or a strain derivedtherefrom.9. An enriched culture of a microbial strain selected from P0032_C7,P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1,P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7,P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 orS2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476,P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1,P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4,P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291,P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387,P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275,S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9,P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424,S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332,S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5,P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654,S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, and S2646 or a strain derivedtherefrom.10. A biologically pure culture of a microbial strain selected fromP0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145,P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181,P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168,P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 orS2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166,P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12,P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 orS2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280,S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12,P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420,S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437,S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421,P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653,S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, and S2646 or a strain derivedtherefrom.11. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45,47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132,133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150,151, 155, 156, 158, and 159.12. The composition according to embodiment 11, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71,78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155,and 158.13. The composition according to embodiment 11, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72,79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151,156, and 159.14. The composition according to any one of embodiments 11-13, furthercomprising a second microbial strain whose 16S rRNA gene sequencecomprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51,54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81,84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121,122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162,163 and 164.15. A composition comprising at least two microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA gene of each of said microbial strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2,3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27,30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55,58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85,86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102,103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121, 122, 129,130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163 and 164.16. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 50, 55, 56, and 57.17. The composition according to embodiment 16, wherein said compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 6 and 57.18. The composition according to embodiment 16 or 17, wherein saidcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 6 and 57, respectively.19. The composition according to embodiment 16, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10, 12, 50, 55, and 56.20. The composition according to embodiment 16 or 19, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10, 12, 50, 55, and 56.21. The composition according to any one of embodiments 16, 19 and 20,wherein the microbial composition comprises one or more microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises asequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 5 and 56, andoptionally further comprises one or more additional microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said additional strains comprises asequence independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNos.: 2, 10, 12, 50, and 55.22. The composition according to any one of embodiments 16 and 19-21,wherein the composition comprises at least seven (7) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least seven strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10, 12, 50, 55, and 56, respectively.23. The composition of embodiment 16, wherein the composition comprisesone or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of saidstrains comprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1,4, 9, 11, 49, and 54.24. The composition of embodiment 16 or 23, wherein the compositioncomprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, 9, 11, 49, and 54.25. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 35, 46, 47, 48, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70,71, 72, 73, and 74.26. The composition according to embodiment 25, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69, and 72.27. The composition according to embodiment 25 or 26, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69, and 72.28. The composition according to any one of embodiments 25-27, whereinsaid composition comprises at least three (3) microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences ofSEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69 and 72.29. The composition according to embodiment 25, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 35, 47, 66, 68, 71, 73, and 74.30. The composition according to embodiment 25 or 29, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 47, 66, 68, 71, 73, and 74.31. The composition according to any one of embodiments 25, 29 and 30,wherein the composition comprises one or more microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 47, 68 and 71, and wherein saidcomposition optionally further comprises one or more additionalmicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said additionalstrains comprises a sequence independently selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 66, 73 and 74.32. The composition according to any one of embodiments 25 and 29-31,wherein the composition comprises at least seven (7) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least seven strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 47, 66, 68, 71, 73, and 74, respectively.33. The composition according to embodiment 25, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46, 65, 67, and 70.34. The composition according to embodiment 25 or 33, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46, 65, 67, and 70.35. The composition according to any one of embodiments 25, 33 and 34,wherein the composition comprises at least five (5) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least five strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46, 65, 67, and 70.36. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33,41, 42, 62, 63, and 64.37. The composition according to embodiment 36, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 26 and 64.38. The composition according to embodiment 36 or 37, wherein thecomposition comprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 26 and 64, respectively.39. The composition according to embodiment 36, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and 63.40. The composition according to embodiment 36 or 39, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and 63.41. The composition according to any one of embodiments 36, 39 or 40,wherein the composition comprises one or more microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 25 and 63, and wherein saidcomposition optionally further comprises one or more additionalmicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said additionalstrains comprises a sequence independently selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 31, 33, and 42.42. The composition according to any one of embodiments 36 and 39-41,wherein the composition comprises at least eight (8) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least eight strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and 63,respectively.43. The composition according to embodiment 36, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24, 30, 32, 41, and 62.44. The composition according to embodiment 36 or 43, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24, 30, 32, 41, and 62.45. The composition according to any one of the embodiments 36, 43 and44, wherein the composition comprises at least six (6) microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least six strainscomprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24, 30, 32, 41, and 62,respectively.46. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 19, 36, 37, 75, and 76.47. The composition according to embodiment 46, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37, and 76.48. The composition according to embodiment 46 or 47, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37, and 76.49. The composition according to anyone of embodiments 46-48, whereinthe composition comprises at least three (3) microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences ofSEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37, and 76, respectively.50. The composition according to embodiment 46, wherein the compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36, and 75.51. The composition according to embodiment 46 or 50, wherein thecomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36, and 75.52. The composition according to any one of embodiments 46, 50 and 51,wherein the composition comprises at least three (3) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36, and 75, respectively.53. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 13, 58, 59, 60, and 61.54. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 59, and 61, or a culture thereof.55. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 59, and 61, or cultures thereof.56. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three (3) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQID Nos.: 13, 59, and 61, respectively, or cultures thereof.57. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 58, and 60, or a culture thereof.58. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 58, and 60, or cultures thereof.59. The composition according to embodiment 53, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three (3) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQID Nos.: 11, 58, and 60, respectively, or cultures thereof60. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44, 45, and 77.61. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 40 and 45, or a culture thereof.62. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 40 and 45, respectively, or cultures thereof.63. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39, 44, and 77, or a culture thereof.64. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39, 44, and 77, or cultures thereof.65. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39 and 44, and wherein said compositionoptionally further comprises one additional microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.: 77, orcultures thereof.66. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 39, 44, and 77, respectively, or cultures thereof.67. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38, and 43, or a culture thereof.68. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38, and 43, or cultures thereof.69. The composition according to embodiment 60, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 27, 38, and 43, respectively, or cultures thereof.70. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 51, 52, 53, 134, and 135.71. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 8, 53, and 135, or a culture thereof.72. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 8, 53, and 135, or a culture thereof.73. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 8, 53, and 135, respectively, or cultures thereof.74. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 3, 7, 52, and 134, or a culture thereof.75. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 3, 7, 52, and 134, or cultures thereof.76. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 7, 52, and 134, and wherein said compositionoptionally further comprises an additional microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.: 3, orcultures thereof.77. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least four microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least four strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 3, 7, 52, and 134, respectively, or cultures thereof. 78. Thecomposition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, and 51, or a culture thereof.79. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, and 51, or cultures thereof.80. The composition according to embodiment 70, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 1, 4, and 51, respectively, or cultures thereof.81. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 14, 16, 78, 79, and 80.82. The composition according to embodiment 81, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofsaid strain comprises a sequence that is SEQ ID No.: 79, or a culturethereof.83. The composition according to embodiment 81, the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 78 and 80, or a culture thereof.84. The composition according to embodiment 81, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 78 and 80, respectively, or cultures thereof.85. The composition according to embodiment 81, the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 14 and 16, or a culture thereof.86. The composition according to embodiment 81, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 14 and 16, respectively, or cultures thereof.87. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 44, 45, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145 and 146.88. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 45, 83 and 146, or a culture thereof.89. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 45, 83 and 146, respectively, or cultures thereof.90. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44, 82 and 145, or a culture thereof.91. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44, 82, and 145, or cultures thereof.92. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44 and 82, and wherein said compositionoptionally further comprises one additional microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.: 145, orcultures thereof.93. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 44, 82 and 145, respectively, or cultures thereof.94. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 81 and 84, or a culture thereof.95. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 81, and 84, or cultures thereof.96. The composition according to embodiment 87, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 43, 81 and 84, respectively, or cultures thereof.97. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 24, 86, 87, and 88.98. The composition according to embodiment 97, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 87 and 88, or a culture thereof.99. The composition according to embodiment 97, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 87 and 88, respectively, or cultures thereof.100. The composition according to embodiment 97, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 24 and 86, or a culture thereof.101. The composition according to embodiment 97, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 24 and 86, respectively, or cultures thereof.102. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52, 53, 81, 82, and 83.103. The composition according to embodiment 102, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53 and 83, or a culture thereof.104. The composition according to embodiment 102, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 53 and 83, respectively, or cultures thereof.105. The composition according to embodiment 102 wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52 and 82, or a culture thereof.106. The composition according to embodiment 102, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 52 and 82, respectively, or cultures thereof.107. The composition according to embodiment 102, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51 and 81, or a culture thereof.108. The composition according to embodiment 102, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 51 and 81, respectively, or cultures thereof.109. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said strain comprises a sequence independently selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52, 53, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145, and 146.110. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83, and 146, or a culture thereof.111. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83 and 146, or cultures thereof.112. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83 and 146, or cultures thereof.113. The composition according to embodiment 109 wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82 and 145, or a culture thereof.114. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82 and 145, or cultures thereof.115. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 82, and 145, and wherein said compositionoptionally further comprises an additional microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.: 76, orcultures thereof.116. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least four microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least four strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 52, 76, 82, and 145, respectively, or cultures thereof.117. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81 and 84, or a culture thereof.118. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81 and 84, or cultures thereof.119. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises three or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81 and 84, or cultures thereof.120. The composition according to embodiment 109, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least four microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81 and 84, or cultures thereof.121. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence independently selected from SEQID Nos.: 51, 52, 53, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145, 146, 86, 87, 160, 161.122. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83, and 146, or a culture thereof.123. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83 and 146, or cultures thereof.124. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83 and 146, or cultures thereof.125. The composition according to embodiment 121 wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82, 145, 87, and 161, or a culturethereof.126. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82, 145, 87, and 161, or culturesthereof.127. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 82, and 145, and wherein said compositionoptionally further comprises an additional microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.: 76, 87and 161, or cultures thereof.128. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least six microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA genes of said at least six strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 52, 76, 82, 145, 87, and 161, respectively, or cultures thereof.129. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or a culturethereof.130. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or culturesthereof.131. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises three or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or culturesthereof.131. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least four microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or culturesthereof.132. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least five microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or culturesthereof.133. The composition according to embodiment 121, wherein the microbialcomposition comprises at least six microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, 84, 86, and 160, or culturesthereof.134. A composition comprising one or more microbial strains selectedfrom P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145,P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181,P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168,P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 orS2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166,P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12,P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 orS2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280,S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12,P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420,S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437,S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421,P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653,S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, and S2646, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof.135. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198,P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284,P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof.136. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 orS2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173,P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, and strains derived therefrom, orcultures thereof.137. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2,P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, 106_E8, P0018_A1, and strainsderived therefrom, or cultures thereof.138. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, andstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.139. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0147_D10 or S2291; P0147_G10or S2292; PS160_F7 or S2351, and strains derived therefrom, or culturesthereof.140. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0140_C10 or S2300; S2387;P0157_G5 or S2303, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.141. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0160_E1 or S2374; P0134_G7 orS2280; S2384, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.142. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2275; S2278, and strainsderived therefrom, or cultures thereof.143. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from P0157_G5 or S2303; S2373;S2375, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.144. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2293; S2382, and strainsderived therefrom, or cultures thereof.145. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2385 and S2373, and strainsderived therefrom, or cultures thereof.146. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2385, S2669, S2373 and S2375,and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.147. The composition according to embodiment 134, wherein the one ormore microbial strains are selected from S2385, S2669, S2373, S2375,S2293, and S2644, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.148. A synthetic microbial consortium, comprising:a) a first set of microbes comprising one or more microbes that promoteplant health, growth, and/or yield; andb) a second set of microbes comprising one or more microbes thatincrease the competitive fitness of the first set of microbes in a);wherein the first and the second sets of microbes are combined into asingle mixture as a synthetic consortium.149. The synthetic microbial consortium according to embodiment 148,wherein one or more microbes of the first set of microbes enhancenutrient availability and/or nutrient uptake of a plant, modulate planthormone levels, or inhibit or suppress a plant pathogen (e.g., as abiological pesticide).150. The synthetic microbial consortium according to embodiment 148,wherein one or more microbes in the first set of microbes demonstrateone or more of the activities selected from nitrogen fixation, IAAproduction, ACC deaminase activity, phosphate solubilization, and/oriron solubilization.151. The synthetic microbial consortium according to embodiment 148,wherein one or more microbes in the second set of microbes produce ametabolite that enhances the competitive fitness of one or more microbesin the first set of microbes.152. The synthetic microbial consortium according to embodiment 148,wherein one or more microbes in the second set of microbes produce asiderophore that enhances iron acquisition of one or more of themicrobes in the first set of microbes.153. The synthetic microbial consortium according to embodiment 148,wherein one or more microbes in the second set of microbes produce ametabolite that is bactericidal, bacteriostatic or otherwise modulatesgrowth of a microorganism that is distinct from the microbes of thefirst and the second sets of microbes, and that is detrimental to thefitness of one or more microbes in the first set of microbes.154. The synthetic consortia according to embodiment 148, wherein one ormore microbes in the second set of microbes produce a siderophore thatinhibits the growth or fitness of a microorganism that is potentiallydetrimental to one or more microbes in the first set.155. A composition comprising a synthetic consortium according to anyone of embodiments 148-154.156. A method of preparing a synthetic microbial consortium to benefitplant health and growth performance comprising,a) selecting a first set of microbes comprising one or more microbesthat promote plant health, growth, and/or yield;b) selecting a second set of microbes comprising one or more microbesthat increase the competitive fitness of the first set of microbes; andc) combining these microbes into a single mixture and designating thecombination as a synthetic consortium.157. The method according to embodiment 156, wherein one or moremicrobes of the first set of microbes enhance nutrient availabilityand/or nutrient uptake of a plant, modulate plant hormone levels, orinhibit or suppress a plant pathogen (e.g., as a biological pesticide).158. The method according to embodiment 156 wherein one or more microbesin the first set of microbes demonstrate one or more of the activitiesselected from nitrogen fixation, IAA production, ACC deaminase activity,phosphate solubilization, and/or iron solubilization.159. The method according to embodiment 156, wherein one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes produce a metabolite thatenhances the competitive fitness of one or more microbes in the firstset of microbes.160. The method according to embodiment 159, wherein one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes produce a siderophore thatenhances iron acquisition of one or more of the microbes in the firstset of microbes.161. The method according to embodiment 156, wherein one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes produce a metabolite that isbactericidal, bacteriostatic or otherwise modulates growth of amicroorganism that is distinct from the microbes of the first and thesecond sets of microbes, and potentially detrimental to the fitness ofone or more microbes in the first set of microbes.162. The method according to embodiment 161, wherein one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes produce a siderophore thatinhibits the growth or fitness of a microorganism that is potentiallydetrimental to one or more microbes in the first set.163. The method of any one of embodiments 156-161, wherein the microbesin step (b) are supplemented with an inert formulary component.164. A synthetic microbial consortia prepared by a method according toany one of embodiments 156-163.165. A composition comprising a synthetic microbial consortia preparedby a method according to any one of embodiments 156-163.166. The composition according to any one of embodiments 11-133, 155 and165, further comprising an agriculturally effective amount of a compoundor composition selected from the group consisting of a nutrient, afertilizer, an acaricide, a bactericide, a fungicide, an insecticide, amicrobicide, a nematicide, and a pesticide.167. A composition comprising a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of said strain comprises a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164, and further comprising anagriculturally effective amount of a compound or composition selectedfrom the group consisting of a nutrient, a fertilizer, an acaricide, abactericide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a microbicide, a nematicide,and a pesticide.168. The composition according to any one of embodiments 11-133, 155,and 165-167, further comprising a carrier.169. The composition according to embodiment 168, wherein said carrieris selected from peat, turf, talc, lignite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite,zeolite, montmorillonite, alginate, press mud, sawdust and vermiculite.170. The composition according any one of embodiments 11-133, 155, and165-169, wherein the composition is prepared as a formulation selectedfrom the group consisting of an emulsion, a colloid, a dust, a granule,a pellet, a powder, a spray, and a solution.171. The composition according to embodiment 168, wherein said carrieris a plant seed.172. A plant seed having a coating comprising a microbial strain or aculture according to any one of embodiments 1-10.173. A plant seed having a coating comprising the composition accordingto any one of embodiments 11-133, 155, and 165-170.174. A method for treating a plant seed or seed priming, said methodcomprising a step of exposing or contacting said plant seed with amicrobial strain or culture according to any one of embodiments 1-10.175. A method for treating a plant seed or seed priming, said methodcomprising a step of exposing or contacting said plant seed with acomposition according to any one of embodiments 11-133, 155, and165-170.176. A method for enhancing the health, growth or yield of a plant, saidmethod comprising applying an effective amount of a microbial strain orculture according to any one of embodiments 1-10 to the plant or to theplant's surroundings.177. A method for enhancing the growth or yield of a plant, said methodcomprising applying an effective amount of a composition according toany one of embodiments 11-133, 155, and 165-170 to the plant or to theplant's surroundings.178. The method according to embodiment 176 or 177, further comprising astep of sterilizing soil before planting a plant, a plant seed or aplant seedling in said soil.179. The method according to any one of embodiments 176-178, whereinsaid microbial strain is grown in a growth medium or soil of a hostplant prior to or concurrent with the host plant growth in said growthmedium or soil.180. The method according to any one of embodiments 176-179, whereinsaid microbial strain is established as an endophyte on said plant.181. A method for preventing, inhibiting or treating the development ofa pathogenic disease of a plant, said method comprising applying aneffective amount of a microbial strain or culture according to any oneof embodiments 1-10 to the plant or to the plant's surroundings.182. A method for preventing, inhibiting or treating the development ofa pathogenic disease of a plant, said method comprising applying aneffective amount of a composition according to any one of embodiments11-133, 155, and 165-170 to the plant or to the plant's surroundings.183. The method according to embodiment 181 or 182, wherein themicrobial strain is grown in a growth medium or soil of a host plantprior to or concurrent with the host plant growth in said growth mediumor soil.184. The method according to any one of embodiments 181-183, wherein thepathogenic disease is caused by a plant pathogen selected from the groupconsisting of Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Monographella,Penicillium, Pythium, and Stagnospora organisms.185. The method according to any one of embodiments 176-184, wherein themicrobial strain is applied to soil, a seed, a root, a flower, a leaf, afruit, a portion of the plant or the whole plant.186. The method according to any one of embodiments 176-185, whereinsaid plant is a corn plant, a soy bean plant or a tomato plant.187. A plant that is artificially infected with a microbial strain orculture according to any one of embodiments 1-10.188. A plant that is artificially infected with a composition accordingto any one of embodiments 11-133, 155, and 165-170.189. A plant seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerativetissue, plant part or progeny of the plant according to embodiment 188.190. A method for assembling a microbial consortium comprising two ormore microbial strains associated with plant health, growth and/oryield, said method comprising the steps of:(1) providing a plurality of plant rhizosphere samples;(2) isolating a plurality of genomic DNAs from each of the samplesprovided in step (1);(3) determining the sequences of a plurality of 16S rRNA gene segmentsfrom each plurality of genomic DNAs isolated in step (2);(4) determining the abundance (absolute or relative) of each of said 16SrRNA gene segments in each plurality of 16S rRNA gene segments whosesequences were determined in step (3);(5) determining the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield for each of the plants from whichthe rhizosphere samples of step (1) were collected;(6) correlating the abundance of each 16S rRNA gene segment determinedin step (4) with the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield determined in step (5);(7) selecting at least one 16S rRNA gene segment whose abundancecorrelates to the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield, as determined in step (6);(8) correlating the abundance of the at least one 16S rRNA gene segmentselected in step (7) with the abundances of the other of the pluralityof 16S rRNA gene segments whose sequences were determined in step (3)across said plurality of samples;(9) identifying one or more 16S rRNA gene segments whose abundancescorrelate with the abundance of the at least one 16S rRNA gene segmentselected in step (7) across said plurality of samples;(10) identifying two or more microbial strains, which comprises the 16SrRNA gene segments identified in steps (7) and (9), respectively; and(11) assembling said two or more microbial strains identified in step(10) into a microbial consortium by combining said strains into a singlemixture.191. A microbial consortium assembled by the method according toembodiment 190.192. A method of enhancing the health, growth or yield of a plant, saidmethod comprising applying an effective amount of a microbial consortiumaccording to embodiment 191 to the plant or to the plant's surroundings.193. A composition comprising one or more microbial strains wherein the16S sequence of the one or more microbial strains comprises any one ofSEQ ID Nos: 1-164.194. The composition of embodiment 193, comprising at least twomicrobial strains wherein the 16S sequence of the at least two microbialstrains comprises any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-164.195. The composition of embodiment 193, comprising at least threemicrobial strains wherein the 16S sequence of at least three microbialstrains comprises any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-164.196. The composition of embodiment 193, comprising at least fourmicrobial strains wherein the 16S sequence of at least four microbialstrains comprises any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-164.197. A composition comprising a microbial consortium selected from thegroup comprising:a) Consortium A: P0035_B2 or S2145, P0032_C7, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 orS2284, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0033_E1 or S2177;b) Consortium B: P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 orS2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168,P0042_D5 or S2165;c) Consortium C: P0038_D2 or S2166, P0018_A11, P0047_E2, P0018_A1,P0047_C1, P0042_E1, P0047_E8;d) Consortium D: S2142_P0061_E11, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4,P0057_A3 or S2160, S2159_P0058_B9, S2163_P0019_A12;e) Consortium E: P0147_D10 or S2291, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0147_G10 orS2292;f) Consortium F: P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303;g) Consortium G: S2384, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280;h) Consortium H: S2275, S2278;i) Consortium I: S2373, S2375, P0157_G5 or S2303;j) Consortium J: S2293, S2382;k) Consortium K: S2385 and S2373;l) Consortium N: S2327 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 99 or 100), S2329 (or SEQ IDNos.: 97 or 98), S2330 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 101 or 102), S2332 (or SEQ IDNos.: 113, 114 or 115), S2333 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 95 or 96) and S2328 (orSEQ ID Nos.: 162 or 163);m) Consortium P: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83) and P0042_B2 orS2168 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 65 or 66);n) Consortium R: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and P0042_B2 orS2168 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 65 or 66);o) Consortium S: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2421 (or SEQID Nos.: 136 or 137);p) Consortium T: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2330 (or SEQID Nos.: 101 or 102);q) Consortium AB: S2159_P0058_B9 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 18 or 19),S2161_P0054_E8 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 36 or 37) and S2163_P0019_A12 (or SEQ IDNos. 75 or 76);r) Consortium AC: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83), S2385 (or SEQID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53), P0147_D10 or S2291 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 11 or 13),S2293 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 86 or 87), S2382 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 24 or 88),S2487 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 20 or 129), S2644 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 160 or 161),P0042_A8 or S2167 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 34 or 35), P0038_D2 or S2166 (or SEQID Nos.: 30 or 31), P0042_D10 or S2172 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 70, 73 or 74),S2159_P0058_B9 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 18 or 19), S2161_P0054_E8 (or SEQ IDNos.: 36 or 37), and S2163_P0019_A12 (or SEQ ID Nos. 75 or 76); ors) Consortium AF: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83), S2385 (or SEQID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2646 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 16 or 164).198. The composition of claim 134, comprising at least two microbialstrains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199,P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177,P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165,P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 orS2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1,P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9,S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 orS2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374,P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382,P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285,S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423,S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3,S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375,S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, andS2646, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.199. The composition of claim 134, comprising at least three microbialstrains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199,P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177,P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165,P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 orS2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1,P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9,S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 orS2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374,P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382,P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285,S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423,S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3,S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375,S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, andS2646, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.200. The composition of claim 134, comprising at least four microbialstrains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199,P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177,P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165,P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 orS2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1,P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9,S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 orS2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374,P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382,P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285,S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423,S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3,S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375,S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, andS2646, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows the mean sweet corn plant biomass of each treatment (n=3;+/−standard deviation) of sweet corn seed treated with microbialconsortia A-D in sterile soil; FIG. 1B shows the mean sweet corn rootbiomass of each treatment (n=3; +/−standard deviation) of sweet cornseed treated with microbial consortia A-D in sterile soil.

FIG. 2 shows a photo of sweet corn growth of sterile soil control andmicrobial consortia B (P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168, andP0042_D5 or S2165) treatment at 47 days of growth, where the three potson the left are triplicate control treatments, and the three pots on theright are triplet consortia B treatments.

FIG. 3 shows a photo sweet corn growth of sterile soil control andmicrobial consortia B (P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168, andP0042_D5 or S2165) treatment after harvest and soil removal, where thethree plants on the left are triplicate control treatments, and thethree plants on the right are triplet consortia B treatments.

FIG. 4 shows a photo of Treatment G (n=4) and Buffer control (n=3) inlive soil after 10 days of growth.

FIG. 5 shows the average mass of roots (n=3) and shoots (n=4) ofmicrobial treatments and controls (Ctrl Buf (n=1) and Ctr NT, n=1),+/−standard error of mean in live soil. A. shows average root mass fortreatments F, H, and G and Ctrl Buf and Ctr NT. B. shows average shootmass for treatments F, H, E and S2376 and Ctrl Buf and Ctr NT.

FIG. 6 shows Test II seedling growth in PlantCon containers usingMS/Phytagel medium. A) Sprouted seeds transferred to PlantCon on daythree. B) Example of seedling growth in PlantCon container at day five.

FIG. 7 show seedling measurements. On day 7, plants were removed fromPlantCon containers. Shoot length and root length were recorded for eachplant, and the average value was calculated for each treatment. A)Control (buffer only) treatment in Test II. B) Strain S2330 treatment inTest II.

FIG. 8 shows Test I seedling growth results. Average values were plottedfor shoot length, root length, and shoot+root length. Error bars arestandard deviations (n=2-4). Asterisk indicates significance compared tocontrol treatment (p<0.05).

FIG. 9 shows Test II seedling growth results. Average values wereplotted for shoot length, root length (sum of three longest roots), andshoot+root length. Error bars are standard deviations (n=5). Asteriskindicates significance compared to control treatment (p<0.05).

FIG. 10 shows the mean plant mass of treatments equal or greater thanthe commercial product treatment (white bar: QR) and controls (hashedbar: M9, Saline). Error bars are standard error of mean (SEM; n=3-10).Asterisk indicates significance compared to control treatment (t-test;p<0.05).

FIG. 11 shows the mean plant height of treatments greater than the meanof the controls (hashed bars: M9 and Saline). Commercial product (whitebar: QR). Error bars are standard error of mean (SEM; n=3-10). Asteriskindicates significance compared to control treatment (t-test; p<0.05).

FIG. 12 shows the mean plant V-stage of treatments greater than the meanof the controls (hashed bars: M9, Saline). Commercial product (whitebar: QR). Error bars are standard error of mean (SEM; n=3-10). Asteriskindicates significance compared to control treatment (t-test; p<0.05).

FIG. 13 shows the mean chlorophyll content (SPAD units; +/−standarddeviation; n=43-49) for two treatments (no microbe control and S2421)over a range of nitrogen fertilization (NH₄Cl: 2 mM, 0.2 mM, 0.02 mM,0.002 mM and 0). Asterisk indicates significant difference (p<0.001) toits corresponding un-inoculated control.

FIG. 14 shows the percent tillers per microbe treated sweet corn plantrelative to buffer control for 11 treatments (Consortia E, F, G, H, Iand J; single strain S2291, S2300, S2384, S2373 and S2376).

FIG. 15 shows the mean chlorophyll at tasseling of treatments S2376,S2300, E, J and buffer control, +/−standard error of the mean (SEM).

FIG. 16 shows the percent yield increase of sweet corn, in marketableears per acre for single strain treatment S2373 and consortia treatmentsE, G, I, and J.

FIG. 17 shows the z-scores (standard deviations) of the single straintreatment effect relative to buffer controls for A) Plant Biomass, B)Plant Height and C) Chlorophyll of youngest true leaf, in a field corngrowth experiment in sterilized soil.

FIG. 18 shows the z-scores (standard deviations) of the single strain orconsortia treatment effect relative to buffer controls for A) PlantBiomass, B) Plant Height and C) Chlorophyll of youngest true leaf, in afield corn growth experiment in sterilized soil.

FIG. 19 shows the z-scores (standard deviations) of the consortiatreatment effect relative to buffer controls for A) Plant Biomass, B)Plant Height and C) Chlorophyll of youngest true leaf, in a field corngrowth experiment in sterilized soil.

FIG. 20 shows Arabidopsis biomass of secondary seedlings treated withsingle strain S2373 and consortium K. Seedlings trimmed on day 20.Asterisk denotes significance (t-test, p<0.05).

FIG. 21 shows Arabidopsis biomass of primary seedlings treated withsingle strains S2373, S1112 and consortium K. Seedlings trimmed on day25. Asterisk denotes significance (t-test, p<0.05).

FIG. 22 shows percent emergence of soybean seedlings after 6 days undercontrol (water/H₂O) and disease (Pythium aphanidermatum/PA2) conditionswith 5 micobial treatments (S2373, S1112, consortia K, I and S).

FIG. 23 shows plant health score of soybean seedlings after 6 days undercontrol (water/H₂O) and disease (Pythium aphanidermatum/PA2) conditionswith 5 microbial treatments (S2373, S1112, consortia K, I and S). Eachof 12 replicate plants scored on a scale of 0 (diseased) to 3 (healthy)and the sum per treatment reported (max score 36).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. Definitions

Unless otherwise defined, all terms of art, notations and otherscientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have themeanings commonly understood by those of skill in the art to which thisapplication pertains. In some cases, terms with commonly understoodmeanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, andthe inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily beconstrued to represent a substantial difference over what is generallyunderstood in the art. Many of the techniques and procedures describedor referenced herein are well understood and commonly employed by thoseskilled in the art.

The singular form “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a cell”includes one or more cells, including mixtures thereof.

As used herein, an isolated strain of a microbe is a strain that hasbeen removed from its natural milieu. As such, the term “isolated” doesnot necessarily reflect the extent to which the microbe has beenpurified. But, in different embodiments, an “isolated” culture has beenpurified at least 2× or 5× or 10× or 50× or 100× from the raw materialfrom which it is isolated. As a non-limiting example, if a culture isisolated from soil as raw material, the organism can be isolated to anextent that its concentration in a given quantity of purified orpartially purified material (e.g., soil) is at least 2× or 5× or 10× or50× or 100× of that in the original raw material.

A “substantially pure culture” of the strain of microbe refers to aculture which contains substantially no other microbes than the desiredstrain or strains of microbe. In other words, a substantially pureculture of a strain of microbe is substantially free of othercontaminants, which can include microbial contaminants as well asundesirable chemical contaminants.

As used herein, a “biologically pure” strain is intended to mean thestrain separated from materials with which it is normally associated innature. A strain associated with other strains, or with compounds ormaterials that it is not normally found with in nature, is still definedas “biologically pure.” A monoculture of a particular strain is, ofcourse, “biologically pure.” In different embodiments, a “biologicallypure” culture has been purified at least 2× or 5× or 10× or 50× or 100×or 1000× or higher (to the extent considered feasible by a skilledperson in the art) from the material with which it is normallyassociated in nature. As a non-limiting example, if a culture isnormally associated with soil, the organism can be biologically pure toan extent that its concentration in a given quantity of purified orpartially purified material with which it is normally associated (e.g.soil) is at least 2× or 5× or 10× or 50× or 100×, or 1000× or higher (tothe extent considered feasible by a skilled person in the art) that inthe original unpurified material.

As used herein, the term “enriched culture” of an isolated microbialstrain refers to a microbial culture wherein the total microbialpopulation of the culture contains more than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or95% of the isolated strain.

The term “culturing”, as used herein, refers to the propagation oforganisms on or in media of various kinds. Suitable media are known to aperson with ordinary skill in the art.

A “composition” as used herein means a combination of an active agent(e.g., a PGPM or microbial strain described herein) and at least oneother compound, carrier, or composition, which can be inert (forexample, a detectable agent or label or liquid carrier) or active, suchas, but not limited to, a fertilizer, nutrient, or pesticide. Amicrobial composition refers to a composition comprising at least onemicrobial species.

Ribosomes, which are comprised of numerous ribosomal proteins and threeribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules, are a key component of proteinsynthesis. The 16S subunit rRNA, which is encoded by the 16S rRNA gene,has been the focus of much attention in microbial phylogenetic studies.The 16S rRNA gene sequence is highly conserved between taxonomic groups,yet also possesses regions that are highly polymorphic. Moreover, therate of change in the RNA sequence is thought to have been relativelyconstant over evolutionary time, enabling scientists to determine therelative relatedness of different organisms.

An “effective amount”, as used herein, is an amount sufficient to effectbeneficial and/or desired results. An effective amount can beadministered in one or more administrations. In terms of treatment,inhibition or protection, an effective amount is that amount sufficientto ameliorate, stabilize, reverse, slow or delay progression of thetarget infection, abiotic stress, or disease state. The expression“effective microorganism” used herein in reference to a microorganism isintended to mean that the subject strain exhibits a degree of promotionof plant health, growth and/or yield or a degree of inhibition of apathogenic disease that exceeds, at a statistically significant level,that of an untreated control. In some instances, the expression “aneffective amount” is used herein in reference to that quantity ofmicrobial treatment which is necessary to obtain a beneficial or desiredresult relative to that occurring in an untreated control under suitableconditions of treatment as described herein. For example, the expression“an agriculturally effective amount” is used herein in reference to thatquantity of microbial treatment which is necessary to obtain anagriculturally beneficial or desired result relative to that occurringin an untreated control under suitable conditions of treatment asdescribed herein. The effective amount of an agricultural formulation orcomposition that should be applied for the improvement of plant health,growth and/or yield, for the control of, e.g., insects, plant diseases,or weeds, can be readily determined via a combination of generalknowledge of the applicable field.

A “nutrient” as used herein means a compound or composition that is ableto provide one or more nutrient elements to plants. In some embodiments,a nutrient provides one or more nutrient elements selected from nitrogen(N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur(S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni),boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) to the plants. In some embodiments, anutrient as used herein provides at least one of nitrogen (N),phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to the plants. In some embodiments, anutrient provides at least one of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) andsulfur (S) to the plants. In some embodiments, a nutrient of theembodiments of this application provides at least one of iron (Fe),manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), boron (B) andmolybdenum (Mo) to the plants. In some embodiments, a nutrient is acompound or composition that promotes the plant uptake of one or morenutrient elements selected from nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium(K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), manganese(Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), boron (B) and molybdenum(Mo), from the soil.

A “fertilizer” as used herein means a compound or composition that isadded to plants or soil to improve plant health, growth and/or yield. Insome embodiments, a fertilizer improves plant health, growth and/oryield by providing a nutrient (such as the ones described herein) to theplant. Fertilizers include, but are not limited to, inorganicfertilizers, organic (or natural) fertilizers, granular fertilizers andliquid fertilizers. Granular fertilizers are solid granules, whileliquid fertilizers are made from water soluble powders or liquidconcentrates that mix with water to form a liquid fertilizer solution.In some embodiments, plants can quickly take up most water-solublefertilizers, while granular fertilizers may need a while to dissolve ordecompose before plants can access their nutrients. High-tech granularfertilizers have “slow-release,” “timed-release,” or“controlled-release” properties, synonymous terms meaning that theyrelease their nutrients slowly over a period of time. Organic fertilizercomes from an organic source such as, but not limited to, compost,manure, blood meal, cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, or others,as opposed to synthetic sources. There are also some natural fertilizersthat are not organic, such as Greensand, which contain potassium, iron,calcium, and other nutrients. These are considered suitable for organicgardening because they are not synthesized, but come from naturalmineral-rich deposits in the earth. Organic fertilizers depend on themicrobes in the soil to break them down into digestible bits for plants.In some embodiments, organic fertilizers encourage soil microbes,earthworms, and other flora more than synthetic fertilizers do, becausemost organic fertilizers don't add excess salts and acid to the soil.Inorganic fertilizers are also known as synthetic or artificialfertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers are manufactured.

A “bacteriostatic” compound or agent, or a bacteriostat (abbreviatedBstatic), is a biological or chemical agent that stops bacteria fromgrowing and reproducing, while not necessarily harming them otherwise.An “acaricide” means a compound or composition that increases themortality of, or materially inhibits the growth, reproduction, or spreadof undesired acarids, including but not limited to dust mites. A“bactericide” means a compound or composition that increases themortality of, or materially inhibits the growth, reproduction, or spreadof undesired bacteria, such as (but not limited to) those unfavorablefor the plant growth. A “fungicidal” refers to a compound or compositionthat increases the mortality of, or materially inhibits the growth,reproduction, or spread of undesired fungi, such as (but not limited to)those unfavorable for the plant growth. A “nematicide” refers to acompound or composition that increases the mortality of, or materiallyinhibits the growth, reproduction, or spread of undesired nematodes. A“insecticide” refers to a compound or composition that increases themortality of, or materially inhibits the growth, reproduction, or spreadof undesired insects, such as (but not limited to) those that areharmful for the plant growth. A “microbicide” refers to a compound orcomposition that increases the mortality of, or materially inhibits thegrowth, reproduction, or spread of undesired microbes, such as (but notlimited to) those that are harmful for the plant growth. A “pesticide”refers to a compound or composition that increases the mortality of, ormaterially inhibits the growth, reproduction, or spread of undesiredpests, such as (but not limited to) those that are harmful for the plantgrowth.

A “carrier” as used herein refers to a substance or a composition thatsupport the survival of the microbes. Such carriers may be eitherorganic or non-organic.

“Seed priming” or “priming of seed” means controlling the hydrationlevel within seeds so that the metabolic activity necessary forgermination can occur but elongation by the embryonic axis, i.e. usuallyradicle emergence, is prevented. Different physiological activitieswithin the seed occur at different moisture levels (Leopold andVertucci, 1989, Moisture as a regulator of physiological reactions inseeds. In: Seed Moisture, eds. P. C. Stanwood and M. B. McDonald. CSSASpecial Publication Number 14. Madison, Wis.: Crop Science Society ofAmerica, pp. 51-69; Taylor, 1997, Seed storage, germination and quality.In: The Physiology of Vegetable Crops, ed. H. C. Wien. Wallingford,U.K.: CAB International, pp. 1-36). The last physiological activity inthe germination process is radicle emergence. The initiation of radicleemergence requires a high seed water content. By limiting seed watercontent, all the metabolic steps necessary for germination can occurwithout the irreversible act of radicle emergence. Prior to radicleemergence, the seed is considered desiccation tolerant, thus the primedseed moisture content can be decreased by drying. After drying, primedseeds can be stored until time of sowing. For example, in someembodiments, a plant seed is exposed or placed in contact with amicrobial strain or a culture thereof, or a composition according to theembodiments of this application during the hydration treatment of seedpriming. In some embodiments, the exposure or contact of a plant seedwith the microbial strain or a culture thereof or a composition of theembodiments of this application, during the priming process improvesseed germination performance, later plant health, plant growth, and/orfinal plant yield.

As used herein, an “endophyte” is an endosymbiont that lives within aplant for at least part of its life. Endophytes may be transmittedeither vertically (directly from parent to offspring) or horizontally(from individual to unrelated individual). In some embodiments,vertically-transmitted fungal endophytes are asexual and transmit fromthe maternal plant to offspring via fungal hyphae penetrating the host'sseeds. Bacterial endophytes can also be transferred vertically fromseeds to seedlings (Ferreira et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 287:8-14,2008). In some embodiments, horizontally-transmitted endophytes aretypically sexual, and transmit via spores that can be spread by windand/or insect vectors. Microbial endophytes of crop plants have receivedconsiderable attention with respect to their ability to control diseaseand insect infestation, as well as their potential to promoting plantgrowth. For instance, some microbial strains described herein are ableto establish as endophytes in plants that come in contact with them.Such microbial strains are microbial endophytes.

The term “pathogen” as used herein refers to an organism such as analga, an arachnid, a bacterium, a fungus, an insect, a nematode, aparasitic plant, a protozoan, a yeast, or a virus capable of producing adisease in a plant or animal. The term “phytopathogen” as used hereinrefers to a pathogenic organism that infects a plant. A “pathogenicdisease” is a disease, such as a plant disease, that is caused by atleast one pathogen. A “phytopathogenic disease” is a disease, such as aplant disease, that is caused by at least one phytopathogen. Somepathogens that may cause plant pathogenic diseases include, but are notlimited to, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Monographella,Penicillium, and Stagnospora organisms.

“Percentage of sequence identity”, as used herein, is determined bycomparing two optimally locally aligned sequences over a comparisonwindow defined by the length of the local alignment between the twosequences. The amino acid sequence in the comparison window may compriseadditions or deletions (e. g., gaps or overhangs) as compared to thereference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) foroptimal alignment of the two sequences. Local alignment between twosequences only includes segments of each sequence that are deemed to besufficiently similar according to a criterion that depends on thealgorithm used to perform the alignment (e. g. BLAST). The percentage ofsequence identity is calculated by determining the number of positionsat which the identical nucleic acid base or amino acid residue occurs inboth sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing thenumber of matched positions by the total number of positions in thewindow of comparison and multiplying the result by 100. Optimalalignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted by the localhomology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Add. APL. Math. 2:482, 1981),by the global homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (JMol. Biol. 48:443, 1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearsonand Lipman (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, 1988), by heuristicimplementations of these algorithms (NCBI BLAST, WU-BLAST, BLAT, SIM,BLASTZ), or by inspection. Given that two sequences have been identifiedfor comparison, GAP and BESTFIT are preferably employed to determinetheir optimal alignment. Typically, the default values of 5.00 for gapweight and 0.30 for gap weight length are used. The term “substantialsequence identity” between polynucleotide or polypeptide sequencesrefers to polynucleotide or polypeptide comprising a sequence that hasat least 50% sequence identity, preferably at least 70%, preferably atleast 80%>, preferably at least 85%, preferably at least 90%>,preferably at least 95%, and preferably at least 96%>, 97%, 98% or 99%sequence identity compared to a reference sequence using the programs.In addition, pairwise sequence homology or sequence similarity, as used,refers to the percentage of residues that are similar between twosequences aligned. Families of amino acid residues having similar sidechains have been well defined in the art. These families include aminoacids with basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidicside chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar sidechains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine,tyrosine, cysteine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine,leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan),beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) andaromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan,histidine). Query nucleic acid and amino acid sequences can be searchedagainst subject nucleic acid or amino acid sequences residing in publicor proprietary databases. Such searches can be done using the NationalCenter for Biotechnology Information Basic Local Alignment Search Tool(NCBI BLAST v 2.18) program. The NCBI BLAST program is available on theinternet from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi). Typically the following parametersfor NCBI BLAST can be used: Filter options set to “default”, theComparison Matrix set to “BLOSUM62”, the Gap Costs set to “Existence:11, Extension: 1”, the Word Size set to 3, the Expect (E threshold) setto le-3, and the minimum length of the local alignment set to 50% of thequery sequence length. Sequence identity and similarity may also bedetermined using GenomeQuest™ software (Gene-IT, Worcester Mass. USA).

As used herein, “progeny” includes descendants of a particular plant orplant line. Progeny of an instant plant include seeds formed on F₁, F₂,F₃, F₄, F₅, F₆ and subsequent generation plants, or seeds formed on BC₁,BC₂, BC₃, and subsequent generation plants, or seeds formed on F₁BC₁,F₁BC₂, F₁BC₃, and subsequent generation plants. The designation F₁refers to the progeny of a cross between two parents that aregenetically distinct. The designations F₂, F₃, F₄, F₅, and F₆ refer tosubsequent generations of self- or sib-pollinated progeny of an F₁plant. Backcrossing is a crossing of a hybrid with one of its parents oran individual genetically similar to its parent, in order to achieveoffspring with a genetic identity which is closer to that of the parent.It is used in horticulture, animal breeding and in production of geneknockout organisms. Backcrossed hybrids are sometimes described withacronym “BC”, for example, an F₁ hybrid crossed with one of its parents(or a genetically similar individual) can be termed a BC₁ hybrid, and afurther cross of the BC₁ hybrid to the same parent (or a geneticallysimilar individual) produces a BC₂ hybrid.

As used herein in reference to a nucleic acid and polypeptide, the term“variant” is used herein to denote a polypeptide, protein orpolynucleotide molecule with some differences, generated syntheticallyor naturally, in their amino acid or nucleic acid sequences as comparedto a reference polypeptide or polynucleotide, respectively. For example,these differences include substitutions, insertions, deletions or anydesired combinations of such changes in a reference polypeptide orpolypeptide. Polypeptide and protein variants can further consist ofchanges in charge and/or post-translational modifications (such asglycosylation, methylation. phosphorylation, etc.).

The term “variant”, when used herein in reference to a microorganism, isa microbial strain having identifying characteristics of the species towhich it belongs, while having at least one nucleotide sequencevariation or identifiably different trait with respect to the parentalstrain, where the trait is genetically based (heritable).

“PGPM” refers to plant-growth promoting microorganisms (or microbes). Insome embodiments, PGPMs not only can promote plant health, growth and/oryield, but also can survive and multiply in microhabitats associatedwith the root surface, in competition with other microbiota, and/or areable to colonize the root, at least for the time needed to express theirplant promotion and/or protection activities. In some embodiments,microbial strains whose 16S rRNA gene comprises a nucleic acid sequenceselected from the SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164, are PGPMs.

The microbial strains (PGPMs), isolates, cultures, compositions orsynthetic consortia promote or enhance plant health, growth or yield, orhave plant growth-promoting activity. The term “plant growth-promotingactivity”, as used herein, encompasses a wide range of improved plantproperties, including, for example without limitation, improved nitrogenfixation, improved root development, increased leaf area, increasedplant yield, increased seed germination, increased photosynthesis, or anincrease in accumulated biomass of the plant. In some embodiments, themicrobial strains, isolates, cultures, compositions or syntheticconsortia as described herein improves stress tolerance (e.g., toleranceto drought, flood, salinity, heat, pest), improves nutrient uptake,plant heath and vigor, improves root development, increases leaf area,increases plant yield, increases seed germination, or an increase inaccumulated biomass of the plant. In some embodiments, the microbialstrains, isolates, cultures, compositions or synthetic consortia asdescribed herein increase the size or mass of a plant or parts thereof,as compared to a control plant, or parts thereof or as compared to apredetermined standard. In some embodiments, the microbial strains,isolates, cultures, compositions or synthetic consortia as describedherein promote plant growth by promoting seed germination, as comparedto a control seed. In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates,cultures, compositions or synthetic consortia as described hereinimprove the health, vigor and yield of a plant, as compared to a controlplant.

As used herein, the term “yield” refers to the amount of harvestableplant material or plant-derived product, and is normally defined as themeasurable produce of economic value of a crop. For crop plants, “yield”also means the amount of harvested material per acre or unit ofproduction. Yield may be defined in terms of quantity or quality. Theharvested material may vary from crop to crop, for example, it may beseeds, above ground biomass, roots, fruits, cotton fibers, any otherpart of the plant, or any plant-derived product which is of economicvalue.

The term “yield” also encompasses yield potential, which is the maximumobtainable yield. Yield may be dependent on a number of yieldcomponents, which may be monitored by certain parameters. Theseparameters are well known to persons skilled in the art and vary fromcrop to crop. The term “yield” also encompasses harvest index, which isthe ratio between the harvested biomass over the total amount ofbiomass.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures andcompositions according to the embodiments of this application lead toplant growth improvement that is an at least 2% increase, at least 5%increase, at least 10% increase, at least 25% increase, at least 50%increase, at least 75% increase, or at least a 100% increase in theproperty being measured. Thus, as non-limiting examples, the microbialstrains, isolates, cultures and compositions according to theembodiments of this application may produce an above stated percentageincrease in nitrogen fixation, or an above stated increase in total rootweight, or in leaf area or in plant product yield (e.g., an above statedpercentage increase in plant product weight), or an increased percentageof seeds that germinate within 10 days or 14 days or 30 days, or rate ofphotosynthesis (e.g., determined by CO₂ consumption) or accumulatedbiomass of the plant (e.g., determined by weight and/or height of theplant). The plant product is the item—usually but not necessarily—a fooditem produced by the plant.

A “control plant”, as used herein, provides a reference point formeasuring changes in phenotype of the subject plant, and may be anysuitable plant cell, seed, plant component, plant tissue, plant organ orwhole plant. A control plant may comprise, for example (but not limitedto), (a) a wild-type plant or cell, i.e., of the same genotype as thestarting material for the genetic alteration which resulted in thesubject plant or cell; (b) a plant or cell of the genotype as thestarting material but which has been transformed with a null construct(i.e., a construct which has no known effect on the trait of interest,such as a construct comprising a reporter gene); (c) a plant or cellwhich is a non-transformed segregant among progeny of a subject plant orcell; (d) a plant or cell which is genetically identical to the subjectplant or cell but which is not exposed to the same treatment (e.g.,inoculant treatment) as the subject plant or cell; (e) the subject plantor cell itself, under conditions in which the gene of interest is notexpressed; or (f) the subject plant or cell itself, under conditions inwhich it has not been exposed to a particular treatment such as, forexample, an inoculant or combination of inoculants and/or otherchemicals.

“Inoculant” as used herein refers to any culture or preparation thatcomprises at least one microorganism. In some embodiments, an inoculant(sometimes as microbial inoculant, or soil inoculant) is an agriculturalamendment that uses beneficial microbes (including, but not limited toendophytes) to promote plant health, growth and/or yield. Many of themicrobes suitable for use in an inoculant form symbiotic relationshipswith the target crops where both parties benefit (mutualism).

Competitive fitness refers to the fitness of the microbes to competewith their neighbors for space and resources. Fitness means the abilityor propensity of a given genotype (e.g., a 16S rRNA gene sequence) toboth survive and reproduce in a given environment.

Biofertilizers designate the biological products which containmicroorganisms providing direct and/or indirect gains in plant health,growth and/or yield.

A bioreactor refers to any device or system that supports a biologicallyactive environment. As described herein a bioreactor is a vessel inwhich microorganisms including the microorganism of the embodiments ofthis application can be grown.

A greenhouse as used herein refers to both a typical greenhouse or agrow room. A grow room typically has normal walls and ceilings,optionally has windows, has normal indoor type of floor, optionally hasfloor drain, has artificial light source, and has the infrastructure tobe used for other purpose than growing plants. A typical greenhouse haswalls and ceilings that allow light to penetrate (e.g., walls/ceilingsmade of glass, plastic or other types of suitable materials), hasconcrete, dirt, gravel or similar type of floor, has natural/ambientlight, but can have additional artificial lights.

All publications, patents and published patent applications referred toin this application are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

The discussion of the general methods given herein is intended forillustrative purposes only. Other alternative methods and embodimentswill be apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of thisdisclosure.

B. Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms

Diverse plant-associated microorganisms, including, but not limited to,many rhizobacterial species, can positively impact plant health andphysiology in a variety of ways. These beneficial microbes are generallyreferred to as PGPMs, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) orplant growth-promoting rhizosphere (PGPR). To date, isolated strains ofover two dozen genera of microorganisms have been reported to have plantgrowth-promoting activity and/or biocontrol activity, and new genera andspecies with similar activities are still being discovered.Additionally, within some bacterial genera, multiple species andsubspecies of biocontrol agents have been identified and can be foundacross multiple spatial scales, from the global level to farm level, andeven on single plants. Furthermore, it has been reported that someindividual microbial isolates may display biocontrol and/or plantgrowth-promoting activity not only on the plants or crops from whichthey were obtained but also on other crops. This indicates thegeneralist nature of some genotypes, especially those with a widegeographic distribution. If introduced in sufficient numbers and activefor a sufficient duration, a single microbial population can have asignificant impact on plant health.

The embodiments disclosed include new microbial strains that are PGPMs.In some embodiments, the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprisesa nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164. In someembodiments, the microbial strain comprises a 16S rRNA gene comprising anucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28,29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78,79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127,128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145,146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156, and 159. In some embodiments, the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82,111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 159.In some embodiments, the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprisesa nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45,48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139,140, 142, 144, 146, 151, 156, and 159. In some embodiments, the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and 138. In some embodiments, the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149. In some embodiments, the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequencethat exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28,39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133,134, 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 158. In some embodiments, the 16SrRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence thatexhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29,40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132,135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151, 156, and 159. In some embodiments,the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotidesequence that exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, atleast 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, atleast 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequenceidentity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ IDNos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149. In some embodiments, the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence thatexhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and138. Some embodiments provide a genus of plant growth-promotingmicroorganisms comprising any of the DNA sequences described herein andwhich enhances the health, growth and/or yield of a plant, as describedherein.

In some embodiments, the microbial strain is selected from P0032_C7,P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1,P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7,P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 orS2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476,P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1,P0047_E8, P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4,P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291,P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387,P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275,S2278, S2373, S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9,P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424,S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332,S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5,P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654,S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644, S2328, S2646, or a strain derived from anyone of these strains. Some embodiments also provide isolates andcultures of the microbial strains as described herein, and compositionsand synthetic consortia comprising various combinations of thosemicrobial strains, isolates or cultures.

PGPMs may demonstrate plant growth-promoting activity, which encompassesa wide range of improved plant properties, including, for examplewithout limitation, improved nitrogen fixation, improved rootdevelopment, increased leaf area, increased plant yield, increasednutrient availability or uptake, increased seed germination, increasedphotosynthesis, or an increase in accumulated biomass of the plant. Insome embodiments, the improvement is an at least 2% increase, at least5% increase, at least 10% increase, at least 25% increase, at least 50%increase, at least 75% increase, or at least a 100% increase in theproperty being measured. Thus, as non-limiting examples, the microbialstrains, isolates, cultures or compositions of the embodiments of thisapplication may produce an above-stated percentage increase in nitrogenfixation, or an above stated increase in total root weight, or in leafarea or in plant product yield (e.g., an above stated percentageincrease in plant product weight), or an increased percentage of seedsthat germinate within 10 days or 14 days or 30 days, or rate ofphotosynthesis (e.g., determined by CO₂ consumption) or accumulatedbiomass of the plant (e.g., determined by weight of the plant). Theplant product is the item—usually but not necessarily—a food itemproduced by the plant. The yield can be determined using any convenientmethod, for example, bushels or pounds of plant product produced peracre of planting.

In some embodiments, the PGPMs, when applied to seed, plant surfaces,plant parts, or soil, colonizes rhizosphere and/or the interior of theplant and promotes growth of the host plant. In some embodiments, PGPMsare biofertilizers. In some embodiments, the PGPMs are microbialfertilizers, which supply the plant with nutrients and thereby canpromote plant growth in the absence of pathogen pressure. In someembodiments, the PGPMs may directly promote plant growth and/yieldthrough mechanisms, including, but not limited to, ability to produce orchange the concentration of plant hormones; asymbiotic nitrogenfixation; and/or solubilization of mineral phosphate and othernutrients.

In some embodiments, PGPMs may affect the plant growth and developmentas phytostimulators. For example, some PGPMs described herein have theability to produce or change the concentration of plant hormones,including, but not limited to the five classical phytohormones, i.e.,auxin, ethylene, abscisic acid, cytokinin, and gibberellin. Some PGPMsmay also produce enzymes or secondary metabolites that affectphytohormone production in plants. In some embodiments, PGPMs may havethe ability to produce or change the concentration of other hormones aswell as certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the cofactorpyrrolquinoline quinone (PQQ), thereby stimulating plant growth and/oryield.

In some embodiments, PGPMs may affect the plant growth and developmentby modifying nutrient availability or uptake. The PGPMs may alternutrient uptake rates, for example, by direct effects on roots, byeffects on the environment which in turn modify root behavior, and bycompeting directly for nutrients. Some factors by which PGPMs describedherein may play a role in modifying the nutrient use efficiency in soilsinclude, for example, root geometry, nutrient solubility, nutrientavailability by producing plant congenial ion form, partitioning of thenutrients in plant and utilization efficiency. For example, a low levelof soluble phosphate can limit the growth of plants. Some plantgrowth-promoting microbes are capable of solubilizing phosphate fromeither organic or inorganic bound phosphates, thereby facilitating plantgrowth.

In some embodiments, PGPMs may affect the plant growth and developmentas plant stress controllers. For example, some PGPMs may control and/orreduce several types of plant stress, including, but not limited to,stress from the effects of phytopathogenic bacteria, stress frompolyaromatic hydrocarbons, stress from heavy metal such as Ca²⁺ andNi²⁺, and stress from salt and severe weather conditions (e.g., droughtor flood).

In some embodiments, PGPMs may promote plant health, growth and/or yielddirectly by controlling phytophathogens or pests in plants. In someembodiments, PGPMs described herein exhibit one or more mechanisms ofbiological disease control, most of which involve competition andproduction of metabolites that affect the pathogen directly. Examples ofsuch metabolites include antibiotics, cell wall-degrading enzymes,siderophores, and HCN. It is noteworthy to state that differentmechanisms may be found in a single PGPM strain and act simultaneously.In some embodiments, PGPMs may affect the plant growth and developmentby producing extracellular siderophores. Some PGPMs described herein maysecrete low molecular weight, high affinity ferric-chelating microbialcofactors that specifically enhance their acquisition of iron by bindingto membrane bound siderophore receptors. Siderophores are small,high-affinity chelators that bind Fe, making it more (or less) availableto certain member of natural microflora. For example, a siderophore maymake Fe more available to a plant or microbe that possesses the abilityto recognize and import the specific siderophore molecular structure.Many different siderophore types and structures exist with differentFe-binding affinities. Furthermore, exchange of Fe from a siderophorewith low Fe-binding affinity to one with higher Fe-binding affinity isknown to occur which may further influence Fe availability to any givenorganism. One of the siderophores produced by some pseudomonad PGPMs isknown as pseudobactin that inhibits the growth of Erwinia cartovora(causal organism for soft-rot of potato) (see, e.g., Kloepper et al.Current Microbiol. 4: 317-320, 1980). Additions of pseudobactin to thegrowth medium inhibited soft-rot infection and also reduced the numberof pathogenic fungi in the potato plant along with a significantincrease in potato yield. Most evidence to support the siderophoretheory of biological control by PGPM comes from work with thepyoverdines, one class of sideophores that comprises the fluorescentpigments of fluorescent pseudomonads (Demange et al. in Iron Transportin Microbes, Plants and Animals, pp 167-187, 1987). According to thesiderophore theory, pyoverdines demonstrate certain functional strainspecificity which is due to selective recognition of outer membranesiderophore receptors (Bakker et al. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 19:443-450, 1989). Production of siderophore(s) may modulate the fitnessand/or growth of other strains. In addition to inhibiting certainstrains (e.g., Erwinia), production of siderophore(s) can also supportthe fitness/growth of other microbial strains that possess receptors fora given siderophore but are unable to synthesize the moleculethemselves.

In some embodiments, the PGPMs may act indirectly on the plant byincreasing the competitive fitness of a second microbial strain (e.g.,another PGPM) by, e.g., providing nutrients, metabolites and/orsiderophores (and/or by any other benefiting mechanism as describedherein) to the second microbial strain. In some embodiments, the PGPMsmay act indirectly on the plant by increasing the competitive fitness ofa second microbial strain (e.g., another PGPM) by, e.g., providingnutrients, metabolites and/or siderophores (and/or by any otherbenefiting mechanism as described herein) to the second microbialstrain, and/or by decreasing the competitive fitness of a thirdmicrobial strain that inhibits, competes with, or excludes or otherwisehas a negative impact on the fitness of the second microbial strain.

In some embodiments, the PGPMs are biocontrol agents of plant diseasesby activating chemical and/or physical defenses of the host plants,i.e., inducing induced systemic resistance (ISR) or systemic acquiredresistance (SAR). In some embodiments, induction of resistance promotedby PGPMs of the present embodiments is active and signaling in the routeof salicylic acid with induction of proteins related to the pathogenesis(PR-proteins) or route of the jasmonic acid and ethylene. Sometimes,when the PGPMs colonize the root system, constituents of themicroorganism cell molecules act as a biochemical signal, and the genesthat encode for the synthesis of the PR-proteins are activated. Inaddition to PR-proteins, plants produce other enzymes of the defense,including peroxidases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyse (PAL), andpolyphenoloxidase (PPO). Peroxidase and PPO are catalysts in theformation of lignin. PAL and other enzymes are involved in the formationof phytoalexins. In some embodiments, the PGPMs described herein induceplant resistance to diseases by increasing peroxidases, PPO and/or PALproduction.

In some embodiments, the PGPMs of the embodiments of this applicationpromote the plant health, growth and/or yield via one or more of themechanisms as described herein.

In some embodiments, the PGPMs of the embodiments of this applicationare biofertilizers or biocontrol agents, which are compatible withorganic farming.

Other aspects of the present embodiments contemplate isolated and/orcultured PGPMs. In one aspect, an embodiment provides isolated microbialstrains (or PGPMs), isolated cultures thereof, biologically purecultures thereof, and enriched cultures thereof. In some embodiments,the microbial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotidesequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164. In some embodiments, themicrobial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequenceselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45,47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 83, 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132,133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 150,151, 155, 156, and 159. In some embodiments, the microbial isolate orculture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of themicrobial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ IDNos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114,119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 158. In someembodiments, the microbial isolate or culture comprises a microbialstrain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises anucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48,53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140,142, 144, 146, 151, 156, and 159. In some embodiments, the microbialisolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149. In some embodiments, themicrobial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequenceselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and 138. In some embodiments, themicrobial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequencethat exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28,39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133,134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 158. In some embodiments, themicrobial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequencethat exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29,40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132,135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151, and 159. In some embodiments, themicrobial isolate or culture comprises a microbial strain, wherein the16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequencethat exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126,131, and 149. In some embodiments, the microbial isolate or culturecomprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbialstrain comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or atleast 99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences asset forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and 138.

Some embodiments provide a microbial isolate or culture thereofcomprising a microbial strain selected from: P0032_C7, P0048_B9 orS2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 orS2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 orS2167, P0042_D5 or S2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189,P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11,P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8,P0018_A1, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 orS2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 orS2303, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373,S2370, S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404,S2385, S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329,S2327, S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473,P0156_G2, P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1,S1112, S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668,S2644, S2328 and S2646, or a strain derived from any one of thesestrains. The microbial isolates or cultures promote the plant health,growth and/or yield, e.g., via one or more of the mechanisms asdescribed herein.

C. Microbiological Compositions

Embodiments of this application provide a microbial composition thatcomprises a PGPM or microbial strain, such as a microbial strainselected from those described herein, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbial strain,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1-164, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbialstrain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26,28, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69, 71, 72,78, 79, 82, 83, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126,127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144,145, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 156, and 159, or a culture thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbialstrain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28, 39, 44,47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133, 134 138,141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 158, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbial strain,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53,57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115, 120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140,142, 144, 146, 151, 156, and 159, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbial strain,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said straincomprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:133, 134 and 138, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotide sequence thatexhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, atleast 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any oneof the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 5, 7, 25, 28,39, 44, 47, 52, 56, 63, 68, 71, 78, 82, 111, 114, 119, 124, 127, 133,134 138, 141, 143, 145, 150, 155, and 158, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbial strain,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial strain comprises a nucleotidesequence that exhibits at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, atleast 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, atleast 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% sequenceidentity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ IDNos.: 6, 8, 26, 29, 40, 45, 48, 53, 57, 64, 69, 72, 79, 83, 112, 115,120, 125, 128, 132, 135, 139, 140, 142, 144, 146, 151, 156, and 159, ora culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises a microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbialstrain comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or atleast 99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences asset forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 113, 123, 126, 131, and 149, or a culturethereof. In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises amicrobial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial straincomprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, at least90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as setforth in SEQ ID Nos.: 133, 134 and 138, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments of the above compositions, the microbial compositionoptionally further comprises a second microbial strain whose 16S rRNAgene sequence comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46,49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76,77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98,99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116, 117,118, 121, 122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 160,161, 162, 163, and 164, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments of theabove compositions, the microbial composition further comprises a secondmicrobial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial straincomprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, at least90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as setforth in SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42,43, 46, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70, 73, 74,75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96,97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 116,117, 118, 121, 122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157,160, 161, 162, 163 and 164 or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least twomicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said microbialstrains comprises a sequence independently selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 70,73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94,95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,110, 116, 117, 118, 121, 122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 152, 153,154, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163, and 164, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least two microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of the microbial strainsindependently comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotidesequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65,66, 67, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107,108, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121, 122, 129, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148,152, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163, and 164, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least onemicrobial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said microbial straincomprises a sequence independently selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24,27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61,62, 65, 66, 67, 77, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 95, 96, 106, 107, 109,110, 116, 117, 118, 122, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 153, 154, 157, 160,and 161, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said microbial strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2,3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34,35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 77,81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 95, 96, 106, 107, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118,122, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 153, 154, 157, 160, and 161, or culturesthereof. In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises atleast one microbial strain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of the microbialstrain comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or atleast 99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences asset forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,20, 21, 24, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 51, 54, 55, 58,59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 77, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 95, 96, 106,107, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 122, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 153, 154,157, 160, and 161, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises at least two microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of the microbial strains independentlycomprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least 85%, at least90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotide sequences as setforth in SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20,21, 24, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59,60, 61, 62, 65, 66, 67, 77, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 95, 96, 106,107, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 122, 130, 136, 137, 147, 148, 153, 154,157, 160, and 161, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least twomicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said microbialstrains comprises a sequence independently selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 19, 22, 23, 32, 36, 37, 49, 50, 70, 73,74, 75, 76, 80, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104,105, 108, 121, 129, 152, 162, 163 and 164, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least two microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of the microbial strainsindependently comprises a nucleotide sequence that exhibits at least85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or at least 99.5% sequence identity to any one of the nucleotidesequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 19, 22, 23, 32, 36, 37, 49,50, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101,102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 121, 129, 152, 162, 163 and 164, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 2, 4,5, 6, 10, 12, 50, 55, 56, 57, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 6 and 57,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 6 and 57,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10,12, 50, 55, and 56, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises two or more microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10, 12, 50, 55, and 56,or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 5 and 56, and optionally further comprises one or moreadditional microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of saidadditional strains comprises a sequence independently selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 10, 12, 50, and 55, or culturesthereof. In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises atleast seven (7) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said atleast seven strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 2, 5, 10, 12, 50,55, and 56, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, 9,11, 49, and 54, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, 9, 11, 49, and 54, or cultures thereof.In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least six(6) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least sixstrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, 9, 11, 49, and 54,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 35,46, 47, 48, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74, or a culturethereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69,and 72, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69, and 72, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least three (3)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 48, 69 and 72, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 47,66, 68, 71, 73, and 74, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises two or more microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 47, 66, 68, 71, 73, and 74,or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 47, 68 and 71, and wherein said composition optionallyfurther comprises one or more additional microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA gene of each of said additional strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 35, 66,73 and 74, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises at least seven (7) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least seven strains comprise sequences of SEQID Nos.: 35, 47, 66, 68, 71, 73, and 74, respectively, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46,65, 67, and 70, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46, 65, 67, 70, or cultures thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least five (5)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least fivestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 34, 46, 65, 67, and 70,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 62, 63, and 64, or a culturethereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 26 and 64,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 26 and64, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22,23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and 63, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments,the microbial composition comprises two or more microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and63, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises one or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 25 and 63, and wherein said composition optionally furthercomprises one or more additional microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNAgene of each of said additional strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22,23, 31, 33, and 42, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises at least eight (8) microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least eight strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 42, and 63,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24,30, 32, 41, and 62, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises two or more microbial strains, whereinthe 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequenceindependently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24, 30, 32, 41, and 62, orcultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least six (6) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least six strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 20, 24,30, 32, 41, and 62, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 19,36, 37, 75, and 76, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37,and 76, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37, and 76, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least three (3)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 19, 37, and 76, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36,and 75, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36, and 75, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least three (3)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 18, 36, and 75, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 13,58, 59, 60, and 61, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 59,and 61, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 59, and 61, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least three (3)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 13, 59, and 61, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 58,and 60, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 58, and 60, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least three (3)microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 11, 58, and 60, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38,39, 40, 43, 44, 45, and 77, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 40 and 45,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 40 and45, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39, 44,and 77, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39, 44, and 77, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or more microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises asequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 39 and 44, and whereinsaid composition optionally further comprises one additional microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises asequence independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.:77, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 39,44, and 77, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38,and 43, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38, and 43, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least threemicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least eightstrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 27, 38, and 43, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 3, 4,7, 8, 51, 52, 53, 134, and 135, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 8, 53, and135, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 8, 53, and 135, or a culture thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least threemicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 8, 53, and 135, respectively,or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 3, 7, 52,and 134, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 3, 7, 52, and 134, or cultures thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 7, 52, and134, and wherein said composition optionally further comprises anadditional microbial strains wherein the 16S rRNA gene of saidadditional strain comprises a sequence independently selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID No.: 3, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least four microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least four strainscomprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 3, 7, 52, and 134, respectively, orcultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, and51, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, and 51, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises at least three microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least three strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 1, 4, and 51, respectively, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 14, 16,78, 79, and 80, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises a microbialstrain, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said strain comprises a sequencethat is SEQ ID No.: 79, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 78 and 80,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 78 and 80,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 14 and 16,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 14 and 16,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 44,45, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145 and 146, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 45, 83,and 146 or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the16S rRNA genes of said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ IDNos.: 45, 83, and 146 respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44, 82 and145, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44, 82, and 145, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or more microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strains comprises asequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 44 and 82, and whereinsaid composition optionally further comprises one additional microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of said additional strain comprises asequence independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.:85, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least three microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least three strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 44, 82and 145, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 81 and84, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene ofeach of said strains comprises a sequence independently selected fromSEQ ID Nos.: 43, 81, and 84, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments,the microbial composition comprises at least three microbial strains,wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least eight strains comprisesequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 43, 81 and 84, respectively, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 24, 86,87, and 88, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 87 and 88,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 87 and 88,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 24 and 86,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 24 and 86,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52,53, 81, 82, and 83, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53 and 83,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two (2) microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genesof said at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 53 and83, respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52 and 82,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 52 and 82,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51 and 81,or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises at least two microbial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes ofsaid at least two strains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 51 and 81,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52,53, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 145 and 146, or a culture thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83,and 146, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83, and 146, or a culture thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least threemicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least threestrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 53, 83, and 146,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82and 145, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82, and 145, or cultures thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 82,and 145, and wherein said composition optionally further comprises anadditional microbial strains wherein the 16S rRNA gene of saidadditional strain comprises a sequence independently selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID No.: 76, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least four microbialstrains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least four strainscomprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 52, 76, 82 and 145, respectively, orcultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA gene of each of said strainscomprises a sequence independently selected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75,81, and 84, or a culture thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises two or more microbial strains, wherein the 16SrRNA gene of each of said strains comprises a sequence independentlyselected from SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, and 84, or cultures thereof. Insome embodiments, the microbial composition comprises at least fourmicrobial strains, wherein the 16S rRNA genes of said at least fourstrains comprise sequences of SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 75, 81, and 84,respectively, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 orS2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 orS2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 orS2165, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173,P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2,P0047_C1, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1,S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160,S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0147_D10 or S2291, P0147_G10 orS2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303,P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280, S2384, S2275, S2278, S2373, S2370,S2293, S2382, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, P0140_D9, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2385,S2197, S2285, S2477, S2376, S2420, S2424, S2445, S2333, S2329, S2327,S2330, S2423, S2435, S2158, S2437, S2332, S2521, S2228, S2473, P0156_G2,P0154_G3, S2487, S2488, S2421, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, P0156_G1, S1112,S2669, S2375, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656, S2668, S2644,S2328, S2646, and any combination thereof, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises at least two of the strains disclosed herein. Inanother embodiment, the microbial composition comprises a plurality ofstrains disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 orS2199, P0035_B2 or S2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 orS2177, P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, and strains derived therefrom, orcultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbial compositioncomprises P0032_C7, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, P0035_B2 orS2145, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0033_E1 or S2177, P0032_A8 orS2181, P0049_E7, or strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_D5 or S2165,P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 orS2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, and strains derived therefrom, or culturesthereof. In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprisesP0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 orS2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168, and P0042_D5 or S2165, orstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, P0047_C1,P0038_D2 or S2166, P0042_E1, P0047_E8, P0018_A1, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises P0044_A5, P0038_D2 or S2166, P0018_A11, P0047_E2,P0018_A1, P0047_C1, P0042_E1, and P0047_E8, or strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, andstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises S2142_P0061_E11, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, S2159_P0058_B9, and S2163_P0019_A12,or strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0147_D10 or S2291; P0147_G10 or S2292;PS160_F7 or S2351, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises P0147_D10 orS2291; P0147_G10 or S2292; and PS160_F7 or S2351, or strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0140_C10 or S2300; S2387; P0157_G5 orS2303, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises P0140_C10 or S2300;S2387; and P0157_G5 or S2303, or strains derived therefrom, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0160_E1 or S2374; P0134_G7 or S2280;S2384, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises P0160_E1 or S2374;P0134_G7 or S2280; and S2384, or strains derived therefrom, or culturesthereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from S2275; S2278, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises S2275 and S2278, or strains derived therefrom, orcultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from P0157_G5 or S2303; S2373; S2375, andstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises P0157_G5 or S2303; S2373; and S2375, orstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains selected from S2293; S2382, and strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, the microbialcomposition comprises S2293 and S2382, or strains derived therefrom, orcultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains independently selected from S2385 and S2373, andstrains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In some embodiments, themicrobial composition comprises S2385 and S2375, or strains derivedtherefrom, or cultures thereof.

In some embodiments, the microbial composition comprises one or moremicrobial strains independently selected from S2385, S2669, S2373 andS2375, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises S2385, S2669, S2373 andS2375, or strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises on or more microbialstrains independently selected from S2385, S2669, S2373, S2375, S2293and S2644, and strains derived therefrom, or cultures thereof. In someembodiments, the microbial composition comprises S2385, S2669, S2373,S2375, S2293 and S2644, or strains derived therefrom, or culturesthereof.

In another embodiment provides a composition comprising a syntheticmicrobial consortium. In some embodiments, a synthetic consortiumcomprises: (a) a first set of microbes comprising one or more microbesthat promote plant health, growth, and/or yield; and (b) a second set ofmicrobes comprising one or more microbes that increase (directly orindirectly) the competitive fitness of one or more of the microbes ofthe first set of microbes in step (a); wherein the first and the secondsets of microbes are combined into a single mixture as a syntheticconsortium. In one embodiment, the synthetic consortium furthercomprises microbial strains not found together in nature. In anotherembodiment, the synthetic consortium comprises microbial strains notfound in comparable concentrations relative to one another in nature. Insome embodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes of thefirst set of microbes ((a) above) enhance nutrient availability and/ornutrient uptake of a plant. In some embodiments of a syntheticconsortium, one or more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a)above) modulate plant hormone levels. In some embodiments of a syntheticconsortium, one or more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a)above) demonstrate one or more of the activities selected from nitrogenfixation, IAA production, ACC deaminase activity, phosphatesolubilization, and/or iron solubilization (and/or any other activitiesfrom which plant health, growth, and/or yield may be benefited). In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes of the firstset of microbes ((a) above) inhibit or suppress a plant pathogen (e.g.,as a biological pesticide such as one selected from those describedherein). In some embodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes ((b) above) directly increase thecompetitive fitness of one or more microbes in the first set of microbes((a) above). In some embodiments, one or more microbes in the second setof microbes produce a metabolite that enhances the competitive fitnessof one or more microbes in the first set of microbes. For example, oneor more microbes in the second set of microbes produce a siderophorethat enhances iron acquisition of one or more of the microbes in thefirst set of microbes. In some embodiments of a synthetic consortium,one or more microbes in the second set of microbes ((b) above) decreasethe competitive fitness of a microorganism that is distinct from themicrobes of the first or the second sets of microbes ((a) or (b) above),and potentially detrimental to (e.g., by inhibiting, competing with,excluding, or otherwise having a negative impact on) the fitness of oneor more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a) above). In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes in thesecond set of microbes ((b) above) produce a metabolite that isbactericidal, bacteriostatic or otherwise modulates growth of amicroorganism that is distinct from the microbes of the first and thesecond sets of microbes, and that is detrimental to (e.g., byinhibiting, competing with, excluding, or otherwise having a negativeimpact on) the fitness of one or more microbes in the first set ofmicrobes ((a) above). For example, one or more of the microbes in thesecond set of microbes ((b) above) produce a siderophore that inhibitsthe growth or fitness of a microorganism that is potentially detrimentalto one or more microbes in the first set ((a) above). Thus, the functionof the second set of microbes is to directly or indirectly increase thefitness or competitive fitness of the first set of microbes. In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, the first and second set ofmicrobes are combined and supplemented with an inert formularycomponent. In some embodiments, the synthetic consortium andcompositions thereof promotes or enhances the health, growth and/oryield of a plant. In some embodiments, the synthetic consortium or acomposition thereof according to the present application is applied to aplant (or a part thereof), a seed, or a seedling.

In some embodiments, the microbial compositions described herein, suchas any of the microbial compositions described above, further comprisean agriculturally effective amount of an additional substance, compoundor composition, such as, but not limited to, a nutrient, a fertilizer,an acaricide, a bactericide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a microbicide,a nematicide, a pesticide, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the compositions are chemically inert; hence theyare compatible with substantially any other constituents of theapplication schedule. The compositions may also be used in combinationwith plant growth affecting substances, such as fertilizers, plantgrowth regulators, and the like, provided that such compounds orsubstances are biologically compatible. The compositions may also beused in combination with biologically compatible pesticidal activeagents as, for example, herbicides, nematocides, fungicides,insecticides, and the like.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains and compositions mayfurthermore be in the form of a mixture with synergists. Synergists arecompounds by which the activity of the active compositions is increasedwithout it being necessary for the synergist added to be active itself.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains and compositions mayfurthermore be in the form of a mixture with inhibitors (e.g.,preservatives) which reduce the degradation of the active compositionsafter application in the habitat of the plant, on the surface of partsof plants or in plant tissues.

The active microbial strains and compositions may be used as a mixturewith known fertilizers, acaricides, bactericides, fungicides,insecticides, microbicides, nematicides, pesticides, or combinations ofany thereof, for example in order to widen the spectrum of action or toprevent the development of resistances to pesticides in this way. Inmany cases, synergistic effects, i.e., the activity of the mixture canexceed the activity of the individual components. A mixture with otherknown active compounds, such as growth regulators, safeners and/orsemiochemicals is also contemplated.

In some embodiments, the compositions may include at least one chemicalor biological fertilizer. The amount of at least one chemical orbiological fertilizer employed in the compositions may vary depending onthe final formulation as well as the size of the plant and seed to betreated. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical or biologicalfertilizer employed is about 0.1% w/w to about 80% w/w based on theentire formulation. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical orbiological fertilizer is present in an amount of about 1% w/w to about60%> w/w and in some embodiments about 10%> w/w to about 50% w/w.

The microbiological compositions optionally further include at least onebiological fertilizer. Exemplary biological fertilizers that aresuitable for use herein and can be included in a microbiologicalcomposition according to the embodiments of this application forpromoting plant growth and/yield include microbes, animals, bacteria,fungi, genetic material, plant, and natural products of livingorganisms. In these compositions, the microorganism is isolated prior toformulation with an additional organism. For example, microbes such asbut not limited to species of Achromobacter, Ampelomyces, Aureobasidium,Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beauveria, Bradyrhizobium, Candida,Chaetomium, Cordyceps, Cryptococcus, Dabaryomyces, Delftia, Erwinia,Exophilia, Gliocladium, Herbaspirillum, Lactobacillus, Mariannaea,Microccocus, Paecilomyces, Paenibacillus, Pantoea, Pichia, Rhizobium,Saccharomyces, Sporobolomyces, Stenotrophomonas, Talaromyces, andTrichoderma can be provided in a composition with the microorganisms.Use of the microbiological compositions according to the presentembodiments in combination with the microbial microorganisms disclosedin U.S. Patent Appl. Publication Nos. US20030172588A1, US20030211119A1,US20130276493, US20140082770; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,084,331; 7,097,830;7,842,494; PCT Appl. Nos. WO2010109436A1, WO2013158900, and WO2013090628is also contemplated.

In some embodiments, the compositions may include at least one chemicalor biological pesticide, acaricide, bactericide, fungicide, insecticide,microbicide, nematicide, or a combination thereof. The amount of atleast one chemical or biological pesticide, acaricide, bactericide,fungicide, insecticide, microbicide, nematicide, or a combinationthereof employed in the compositions can vary depending on the finalformulation as well as the size of the plant and seed to be treated. Insome embodiments, the at least one chemical or biological pesticide,acaricide, bactericide, fungicide, insecticide, microbicide, nematicide,or a combination thereof employed is about 0.1% w/w to about 80% w/wbased on the entire formulation. In some embodiments, the at least onechemical or biological pesticide, acaricide, bactericide, fungicide,insecticide, microbicide, nematicide, or a combination thereof ispresent in an amount of about 1% w/w to about 60%> w/w and mostpreferably about 10%> w/w to about 50% w/w.

A variety of chemical pesticides is apparent to one of skill in the artand may be used. Exemplary chemical pesticides include those in thecarbamate, organophosphate, organochlorine, and pyrethroid classes. Alsoincluded are chemical control agents such as, but not limited to,benomyl, borax, captafol, captan, chorothalonil, formulations containingcopper; formulations containing dichlone, dicloran, iodine, zinc;fungicides such as but not limited to blastididin, cymoxanil, fenarimol,flusilazole, folpet, imazalil, ipordione, maneb, manocozeb, metalaxyl,oxycarboxin, myclobutanil, oxytetracycline, PCNB, pentachlorophenol,prochloraz, propiconazole, quinomethionate, sodium aresenite, sodiumDNOC, sodium hypochlorite, sodium phenylphenate, streptomycin, sulfur,tebuconazole, terbutrazole, thiabendazole, thiophanate-methyl,triadimefon, tricyclazole, triforine, validimycin, vinclozolin, zineb,and ziram.

In some embodiments, the compositions include at least one biologicalpesticide. Exemplary biological pesticides that are suitable for useherein and can be included in a microbiological composition forpreventing a plant pathogenic disease include microbes, animals,bacteria, fungi, genetic material, plant, and natural products of livingorganisms. In these compositions, the microorganism is isolated prior toformulation with an additional organism. For example, microbes such asbut not limited to species of Anthrobacter, Ampelomyces, Aureobasidium,Bacillus, Beauveria, Candida, Chaetomium, Cordyceps, Cryptococcus,Dabaryomyces, Erwinia, Exophilia, Gliocladium, Mariannaea, Paecilomyces,Paenibacillus, Pantoea, Pichia, Pseudomonas, Sporobolomyces,Streptomyces, Talaromyces, and Trichoderma can be provided in acomposition with the microorganisms disclosed herein, with fungalstrains of the Muscodor genus being preferred. Use of themicrobiological compositions in combination with the microbialantagonists disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,518,040; 7,601,346; and6,312,940 is also contemplated.

Examples of fungi that may be combined with microbial strains andcompositions in a composition include, without limitation, Muscodorspecies, Aschersonia aleyrodis, Beauveria bassiana (“white muscarine”),Beauveria brongniartii, Chladosporium herbarum, Cordyceps clavulata,Cordyceps en tomorrhiza, Cordyceps facis, Cordyceps gracilis, Cordycepsmelolanthae, Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps myrmecophila, Cordycepsravenelii, Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps sphecocephala, Cordycepssubsessilis, Cordyceps unilateralis, Cordyceps variabilis, Cordycepswashingtonensis, Culicinomyces clavosporus, Entomophaga grylli,Entomophaga maimaiga, Entomophaga muscae, Entomophaga praxibulli,Entomophthora plutellae, Fusarium lateritium, Glomus species, Hirsutellacitriformis, Hirsutella thompsoni, Metarhizium anisopliae (“greenmuscarine”), Metarhizium flaviride, Muscodor albus, Neozygitesfloridana,Nomuraea rileyi, Paecilomyces farinosus, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus,Pandora neoaphidis, Tolypocladium cylindrosporum, Verticillium lecanii,Zoophthora radicans, and mycorrhizal species such as Laccaria bicolor.Other mycopesticidal species will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In still another embodiment, the PGPM compositions, consortia andmethods disclosed herein can be used to treat transgenic seed. Atransgenic seed refers to the seed of plants containing at least oneheterologous gene that allows the expression of a polypeptide or proteinnot naturally found in the plant. The heterologous gene in transgenicseed can originate, for example, from microorganisms of the speciesBacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichodermia, Clavibacter,Glomus or Gliocladium.

A further embodiment relates to a method of increasing the durability ofplant pest compositions comprising providing a plant protectioncomposition to a plant or planted area, and providing the PGPMcompositions, consortia and methods described herein to the plant orplanted area, wherein the PGPM compositions, consortia and methodsdescribed herein have a different mode of action than the plantprotection composition.

The present disclosure further provides compositions that contain atleast one of the isolated microbial strains or cultures thereof, such asany one of those described herein, and a carrier. The carrier may be anyone or more of a number of carriers that confer a variety of properties,such as increased stability, wettability, dispersibility, etc. Wettingagents such as natural or synthetic surfactants, which can be nonionicor ionic surfactants or a combination thereof, can be included in acomposition of the embodiments. Emulsions, such as water-in-oilemulsions can also be used to formulate a composition that includes atleast one isolated microorganism of the present embodiments (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,451, incorporated by reference herein).Suitable formulations that may be prepared include wettable powders,granules, gels, agar strips or pellets, thickeners, and the like,microencapsulated particles, and the like, liquids such as aqueousflowables, aqueous suspensions, water-in-oil emulsions, etc. Theformulation may include grain or legume products (e.g., ground grain orbeans, broth or flour derived from grain or beans), starch, sugar, oroil. The carrier may be an agricultural carrier. In certain preferredembodiments, the carrier is a seed, and the composition may be appliedor coated onto the seed or allowed to saturate the seed.

In some embodiments, the agricultural carrier may be soil or plantgrowth medium. Other agricultural carriers that may be used includewater, fertilizers, plant-based oils, humectants, or combinationsthereof. Alternatively, the agricultural carrier may be a solid, such asdiatomaceous earth, loam, silica, alginate, clay, bentonite,vermiculite, seed cases, other plant and animal products, orcombinations, including granules, pellets, or suspensions. Mixtures ofany of the aforementioned ingredients are also contemplated as carriers,such as but not limited to, pesta (flour and kaolin clay), agar orflour-based pellets in loam, sand, or clay, etc. Formulations mayinclude food sources for the cultured organisms, such as barley, rice,or other biological materials such as seed, plant parts, sugar canebagasse, hulls or stalks from grain processing, ground plant material(“yard waste”), compost, or wood from building site refuse, sawdust orsmall fibers from recycling of paper, fabric, or wood. Other suitableagricultural carriers are known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the carrier suitable for the compositions describedherein is an organic carrier. The organic carriers include, but are notlimited to, peat, turf, talc, lignite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, zeolite,montmorillonite, alginate, press mud, sawdust, and vermiculite. Talc isa natural mineral referred as steatite or soapstone composed of variousminerals in combination with chloride and carbonate. Chemically it isreferred as magnesium silicate and available as powder form fromindustries suited for wide range of applications. Talc has relativehydrophobicity, low moisture equilibrium, chemical inertness, reducedmoisture absorption and it prevents the formation of hydrate bridgeswhich enable longer storage periods. Peat (turf) is a carbonizedvegetable tissue formed in wet conditions by decomposition of variousplants and mosses. Peat is formed by the slow decay of successive layersof aquatic and semi aquatic plants, such as sedges, reeds, rushes, andmosses. Press mud is a byproduct of sugar industries. Vermiculite is alight mica-like mineral used to improve aeration and moisture retention.In some embodiments, compositions with organic carriers as describedherein are suitable for organic farming. Other suitable organic carriersare known to those skilled in the art.

The microbiological compositions that comprise isolated microbialstrains or cultures thereof may be in a variety of forms, including, butnot limited to, still cultures, whole cultures, stored stocks of cells,mycelium and/or hyphae (particularly glycerol stocks), agar strips,stored agar plugs in glycerol/water, freeze dried stocks, and driedstocks such as lyophilisate or mycelia dried onto filter paper or grainseeds. As defined herein, “isolated culture” or grammatical equivalentsas used in this disclosure and in the art is understood to mean that thereferred to culture is a culture fluid, pellet, scraping, dried sample,lyophilisate, or section (for example, hyphae or mycelia); or a support,container, or medium such as a plate, paper, filter, matrix, straw,pipette or pipette tip, fiber, needle, gel, swab, tube, vial, particle,etc. that contains a single type of organism. An isolated culture of amicrobial antagonist is a culture fluid or a scraping, pellet, driedpreparation, lyophilisate, or section of the microorganism, or asupport, container, or medium that contains the microorganism, in theabsence of other organisms.

In some embodiments, the compositions are in a liquid form. For example,in the liquid form, e.g., solutions or suspensions, the microorganismsof the present embodiments may be mixed or suspended in water or inaqueous solutions. Suitable liquid diluents or carriers include water,aqueous solutions, petroleum distillates, or other liquid carriers.

In some embodiments, the compositions are in a solid form. For example,solid compositions can be prepared by dispersing the microorganisms ofthe embodiments in and on an appropriately divided solid carrier, suchas peat, wheat, bran, vermiculite, clay, talc, bentonite, diatomaceousearth, fuller's earth, pasteurized soil, and the like. When suchformulations are used as wettable powders, biologically compatibledispersing agents such as non-ionic, anionic, amphoteric, or cationicdispersing and emulsifying agents can be used.

In one embodiment, the microbial composition promotes plant health,growth and/or yield via one or more mechanisms by which PGPMs function,as described herein. In some embodiments, the compositions contemplatedherein enhance the growth and yield of crop plants by acting asmicrobial fertilizers, biocontrol agents of plant diseases, and/orinducers of plant resistance. The compositions, similarly to otherbiofertilizer agents, may have a high margin of safety because theytypically do not burn or injure the plant.

As described throughout the present application, enhancing plant growthand plant yield may be effected by application of one or more of thecompositions to a host plant or parts of the host plant. Thecompositions can be applied in an amount effective to enhance plantgrowth or yield relative to that in an untreated control. The activeconstituents are used in a concentration sufficient to enhance thegrowth of the target plant when applied to the plant. As will beapparent to a skilled person in the art, effective concentrations mayvary depending upon various factors such as, for example, (a) the typeof the plant or agricultural commodity; (b) the physiological conditionof the plant or agricultural commodity; (c) the concentration ofpathogens affecting the plant or agricultural commodity; (d) the type ofdisease injury on the plant or agricultural commodity; (e) weatherconditions (e.g., temperature, humidity); and (f) the stage of plantdisease. Typical concentrations are those higher than 1×10² CFU/mL ofcarrier. In some embodiments, concentrations range from about 1×10² toabout 1×10¹⁰ CFU/mL, such as the concentrations ranging from 1×10⁵ to1×10⁹ CFU/mL. In some embodiments, concentrations are those of fromabout 1 to about 100 mg dry bacterial mass per milliliter of carrier(liquid composition) or per gram of carrier (dry formulation). In someembodiments, the concentrations range from 1×10² to about 1×10¹⁰cell/mL, such as the concentrations ranging from 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁹ cell/mLof the composition or carrier.

In some embodiments, the amount of one or more of the microorganisms inthe compositions may vary depending on the final formulation as well assize or type of the plant or seed utilized. Preferably, the one or moremicroorganisms in the compositions are present in about 0.01% w/w toabout 80% w/w of the entire formulation. In some embodiments, the dryweights of one or more microorganisms employed in the compositions isabout 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 5% w/w to about 65% w/w and most preferably about1% w/w to about 60% w/w by weight of the entire formulation.

The microbiological compositions may be applied to the target plant (orpart(s) thereof) using a variety of conventional methods such asdusting, coating, injecting, rubbing, rolling, dipping, spraying, orbrushing, or any other appropriate technique which does notsignificantly injure the target plant to be treated. Exemplary methodsinclude, but are not limited to, the inoculation of growth medium orsoil with suspensions of microbial cells and the coating of plant seedswith microbial cells and/or spores.

Also provided are methods of treating a plant by application of any of avariety of customary formulations in an effective amount to either thesoil (i.e., in-furrow), a portion of the plant (i.e., drench) or on theseed before planting (i.e., seed coating or dressing). Customaryformulations include solutions, emulsifiable concentrate, wettablepowders, suspension concentrate, soluble powders, granules,suspension-emulsion concentrate, natural and synthetic materialsimpregnated with active compound, and very fine control release capsulesin polymeric substances. In certain embodiments, the microbialcompositions are formulated in powders that are available in either aready-to-use formulation or are mixed together at the time of use. Ineither embodiment, the powder may be admixed with the soil prior to orat the time of planting. In an alternative embodiment, one or both ofeither the plant growth-promoting agent or biocontrol agent is a liquidformulation that is mixed together at the time of treating. One ofordinary skill in the art understands that an effective amount of theinventive compositions depends on the final formulation of thecomposition as well as the size of the plant or the size of the seed tobe treated.

Depending on the final formulation and method of application, one ormore suitable additives can also be introduced to the compositions.Adhesives such as carboxymethylcellulose and natural and syntheticpolymers in the form of powders, granules or latexes, such as gumarabic, chitin, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, as well asnatural phospholipids, such as cephalins and lecithins, and syntheticphospholipids, trehalose, mannitol, sorbitol, myo-inositol, sophorose,maltotriose, glucose, (+)-galactose, methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside canbe added to the present compositions.

In some embodiments, the compositions are formulated n a single, stablesolution, or emulsion, or suspension. For solutions, the active chemicalcompounds are typically dissolved in solvents before the biologicalagent is added. Suitable liquid solvents include petroleum basedaromatics, such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, aliphatichydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example petroleumfractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols, such as butanol orglycol as well as their ethers and esters, ketones, such as methyl ethylketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polarsolvents, such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide. Foremulsion or suspension, the liquid medium is water. In one embodiment,the chemical agent and biological agent are suspended in separateliquids and mixed at the time of application. In a preferred embodimentof suspension, the chemical agent and biological agent are combined in aready-to-use formulation that exhibits a reasonably long shelf-life. Inuse, the liquid can be sprayed or can be applied foliarly as an atomizedspray or in-furrow at the time of planting the crop. The liquidcomposition can be introduced in an effective amount on the seed (i.e.,seed coating or dressing) or to the soil (i.e., in-furrow) beforegermination of the seed or directly to the soil in contact with theroots by utilizing a variety of techniques known in the art including,but not limited to, drip irrigation, sprinklers, soil injection or soildrenching. Optionally, stabilizers and buffers can be added, includingalkaline and alkaline earth metal salts and organic acids, such ascitric acid and ascorbic acid, inorganic acids, such as hydrochloricacid or sulfuric acid. Biocides can also be added and can includeformaldehydes or formaldehyde-releasing agents and derivatives ofbenzoic acid, such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid.

D. Microbial Consortia

One embodiment provides a microbial consortium comprising two or moremicrobial strains, wherein the microbial consortium promotes or enhancesplant health, growth, and/or yield.

One embodiment, provides a method for identifying at least one microbialstrain that is associated with plant health, growth and/or yield, saidmethod comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a plurality of plant rhizosphere samples;

(2) isolating a plurality of genomic DNAs from each of the samplesprovided in step (1);

(3) determining the sequences of a plurality of 16S rRNA gene segmentsfrom each plurality of genomic DNAs isolated in step (2);

(4) determining the abundance (absolute or relative) of each of said 16SrRNA gene segments in each plurality of 16S rRNA gene segments whosesequences were determined in step (3);

(5) determining the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield for each of the plants from whichthe rhizosphere samples of step (1) were collected;

(6) correlating the abundance of each 16S rRNA gene segment determinedin step (4) with the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield determined in step (5);

(7) selecting at least one 16S rRNA gene segment whose abundancecorrelates to the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield, as determined in step (6); and

(8) identifying at least one microbial strain from the plurality ofplant rhizosphere samples in step (1) that comprises the at least one16S rRNA gene segment selected in step (7).

Individual microbial strains may also be combined to produce aconsortium based on their compatibility and function. Some embodimentsprovide a microbial consortium comprising two or more microbial strainsidentified by the methods as described herein.

Furthermore, it is recognized that certain different species of microbestend to coincide or co-localize in nature due to their close andlong-term physical and/or biochemical interactions. Certain microbialstrains may work together as a consortium to support, and/or (directlyor indirectly) promote plant health, growth and/or yield. For example,biological control of plant pathogens in disease suppressible soil isdue to the existence of mixture of microbial antagonists. Furthermore,due to the physical and/or biochemical interactions, when workingtogether as a consortium, some co-localizing microbial strains oftendemonstrate various synergistic effects as compared to them workingalone.

Another embodiment provides a method for assembling a microbialconsortium comprising two or more microbial strains that are associatedwith plant health, growth and/or yield, said method comprising the stepsof:

(1) providing a plurality of plant rhizosphere samples;

(2) isolating a plurality of genomic DNAs from each of the samplesprovided in step (1);

(3) determining the sequences of a plurality of 16S rRNA gene segmentsfrom each plurality of genomic DNAs isolated in step (2);

(4) determining the abundance (absolute or relative) of each of said 16SrRNA gene segments in each plurality of 16S rRNA gene segments whosesequences were determined in step (3);

(5) determining the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield for each of the plants from whichthe rhizosphere samples of step (1) were collected;

(6) correlating the abundance of each 16S rRNA gene segment determinedin step (4) with the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield determined in step (5);

(7) selecting at least one 16S rRNA gene segment whose abundancecorrelates to the plant biomass or the abundance of a parameterassociated therewith (e.g., plant weight, plant height, rootsize/length, etc.) or the plant yield, as determined in step (6);

(8) correlating the abundance of the at least one 16S rRNA gene segmentselected in step (7) with the abundances of the other of the pluralityof 16S rRNA gene segments whose sequences were determined in step (3)across said plurality of samples;

(9) identifying one or more 16S rRNA gene segments whose abundancescorrelate with the abundance of the at least one 16S rRNA gene segmentselected in step (7) across said plurality of samples;

(10) identifying two or more microbial strains, which comprises the 16SrRNA gene segments identified in steps (7) and (9), respectively; and

(11) assembling said two or more microbial strains identified in step(10) into a microbial consortium by combining said strains into a singlemixture.

One embodiment provides a method for identifying a microbial consortiumcomprising two or more microbial strains, which promote plant health,growth and/or yield, based on 16S rRNA profiling. In some embodiments ofthis method, plants and the associated rhizosphere samples are firstcollected. Microbial 16S rRNA sequence tags are then determined for eachplant rhizosphere sample using known methods (Patin et al. 2013 Microb.Ecol. 65:709-719). Pearson correlation values are then determined forthe relative or percent abundance of each 16S rRNA sequence tag and thenormalized weight (or height) of the corresponding plant, across aplurality of samples from plant fields. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequence tagswith the highest correlation to either plant weight or height are thenidentified. The 16S rRNA sequence tags with the highest correlation toplant performance (normalized plant height or weight) are selected toidentify other microbes that potentially shared functional interactionsand thus, constituted consortia. To identify potential consortiummembers, distribution of the 16S rRNA sequence tags best correlated toplant performance are compared with every other sequence tag in the dataset to identify co-distributing sequences. A ranked list of Pearsoncorrelations of these comparisons is created and is expected to revealcandidate consortium members.

In another aspect, one embodiment provides a method of preparing asynthetic microbial consortium, comprising:

(a) selecting a first set of microbes comprising one or more microbesthat promote plant health, growth, and/or yield;

(b) selecting a second set of microbes comprising one or more microbesthat increase (directly or indirectly) the competitive fitness of one ormore of the microbes of the first set of microbes in step (a); and

(c) combining the first and the second sets of microbes into a singlemixture as a synthetic consortium.

In some embodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes ofthe first set of microbes ((a) above) enhance nutrient availabilityand/or nutrient uptake of a plant. In some embodiments of a syntheticconsortium, one or more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a)above) modulate plant hormone levels. In some embodiments of a syntheticconsortium, one or more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a)above) demonstrate one or more of the activities selected from nitrogenfixation, IAA production, ACC deaminase activity, phosphatesolubilization, and/or iron solubilization (and/or any other activitiesfrom which plant health, growth, and/or yield may be benefited). In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes of the firstset of microbes ((a) above) inhibit or suppress a plant pathogen (e.g.,as a biological pesticide such as one selected from those describedherein). In some embodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or moremicrobes in the second set of microbes ((b) above) directly increase thecompetitive fitness of one or more microbes in the first set of microbes((a) above). In some embodiments, one or more microbes in the second setof microbes produce a metabolite that enhances the competitive fitnessof one or more microbes in the first set of microbes. For example, oneor more microbes in the second set of microbes produce a siderophorethat enhances iron acquisition of one or more of the microbes in thefirst set of microbes. In some embodiments of a synthetic consortium,one or more microbes in the second set of microbes ((b) above) decreasethe competitive fitness of a microorganism that is distinct from themicrobes of the first or the second sets of microbes ((a) or (b) above),and are potentially detrimental to (e.g., by inhibiting, competing with,excluding, or otherwise having a negative impact on) the fitness of oneor more microbes in the first set of microbes ((a) above). In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, one or more microbes in thesecond set of microbes ((b) above) produce a metabolite that isbactericidal, bacteriostatic or otherwise modulates growth of amicroorganism that is distinct from the microbes of the first and thesecond sets of microbes, and potentially detrimental to (e.g., byinhibiting, competing with, excluding, or otherwise having a negativeimpact on) the fitness of one or more microbes in the first set ofmicrobes ((a) above). For example, one or more of the microbes in thesecond set of microbes ((b) above) produce a siderophore that inhibitsthe growth or fitness of a microorganism that is potentially detrimentalto one or more microbes in the first set ((a) above). In someembodiments of a synthetic consortium, the second set of microbes ((b)above) are supplemented with an inert formulary component. In someembodiments, the synthetic consortium and compositions thereof promoteor enhance plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield. In someembodiments, the synthetic consortium or a composition thereof accordingto the present application is applied to a plant (or a part thereof), aseed, or a seedling.

Another embodiment contemplates a microbial consortium identified orprepared by a method according to any of the methods described above.The present embodiments further contemplate a method of promoting planthealth, growth, and/or yield using a microbial consortium identified orconstructed by a method according to the according to any of the methodsdescribed above.

E. Seed Coating Formulations

In one aspect, the microbial strains, cultures and/or compositionsdescribed herein are formulated as a seed treatment. In someembodiments, seeds can be partially, or substantially uniformly coatedwith one or more layers of the microbial strains, cultures, and/orcompositions disclosed herein using conventional methods, including butnot limited to mixing, spraying or a combination thereof through the useof treatment application equipment that is specifically designed andmanufactured to accurately, safely, and efficiently apply seed treatmentproducts to seeds.

In some embodiments, seeds can be coated using a coating technology suchas, but not limited to, rotary coaters, drum coaters, fluidized bedtechniques, spouted beds, rotary mists or a combination thereof. Liquidseed treatments such as those of the present embodiments can be applied,for example, via either a spinning “atomizer” disk or a spray nozzlewhich evenly distributes the seed treatment onto the seed as it movesthough the spray pattern. In certain embodiments, the seed is then mixedor tumbled for an additional period of time to achieve additionaltreatment distribution and drying. The seeds can be primed or unprimedbefore coating with the compositions to increase the uniformity ofgermination and emergence. In an alternative embodiment, a dry powderformulation can be metered onto the moving seed and allowed to mix untilcompletely distributed.

Other aspects provide seeds treated with the subject microbialcompositions. One embodiment provides seeds having at least part of thesurface area coated with a microbiological composition according to thepresent embodiments. In one embodiment, the microorganism-treated seedshave a microbial spore concentration or microbial cell concentrationfrom about 10⁵ to about 10⁹ per seed. The seeds may also have morespores or microbial cells per seed. The microbial spores and/or cellscan be coated freely onto the seeds or, preferably, they can beformulated in a liquid or solid composition before being coated onto theseeds. For example, a solid composition comprising the microorganismscan be prepared by mixing a solid carrier with a suspension of thespores until the solid carriers are impregnated with the spore or cellsuspension. This mixture can then be dried to obtain the desiredparticles.

In some other embodiments, the microbial compositions contain functionalagents capable of protecting seeds from the harmful effects of selectiveherbicides such as activated carbon, nutrients (fertilizers), and otheragents capable of improving the germination and quality of the productsor a combination thereof.

Seed coating methods and compositions that are known in the art can beparticularly useful when they are modified by the addition of one of thecompositions disclosed herein. Such coating methods and apparatus fortheir application are disclosed in, for example but not limited to, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,918,413; 5,554,445; 5,389,399; 4,759,945; and 4,465,017.Seed coating compositions are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Appl.No. US20100154299, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,939,356; 5,876,739, 5,849,320;5,791,084, 5,661,103; 5,580,544, 5,328,942; 4,735,015; 4,634,587;4,372,080, 4,339,456; and 4,245,432, which are all incorporated hereinby reference.

A variety of additives can be added to the seed treatment formulationscomprising the compositions disclosed herein. Binders can be added andinclude those composed preferably of an adhesive polymer that can benatural or synthetic without phytotoxic effect on the seed to be coated.The binder may be selected from polyvinyl acetates; polyvinyl acetatecopolymers; ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers; polyvinyl alcohols;polyvinyl alcohol copolymers; celluloses, including ethylcelluloses,methylcelluloses, hydroxymethylcelluloses, hydroxypropylcelluloses andcarboxymethylcellulose; polyvinylpyrolidones; polysaccharides, includingstarch, modified starch, dextrins, maltodextrins, alginate andchitosans; fats; oils; proteins, including gelatin and zeins; gumarables; shellacs; vinylidene chloride and vinylidene chloridecopolymers; calcium lignosulfonates; acrylic copolymers;polyvinylacrylates; polyethylene oxide; acrylamide polymers andcopolymers; polyhydroxyethyl acrylate, methylacrylamide monomers; andpolychloroprene.

Any of a variety of colorants may be employed, including organicchromophores classified as nitroso; nitro; azo, including monoazo,bisazo and polyazo; acridine, anthraquinone, azine, diphenylmethane,indamine, indophenol, methine, oxazine, phthalocyanine, thiazine,thiazole, triarylmethane, xanthene. Other additives that can be addedinclude trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper,cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and zinc. A polymer or other dust controlagent can be applied to retain the treatment on the seed surface.

In some specific embodiments, in addition to the microbial cells orspores, the coating can further comprise a layer of adherent. Theadherent should be non-toxic, biodegradable, and adhesive. Examples ofsuch materials include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl acetates;polyvinyl acetate copolymers; polyvinyl alcohols; polyvinyl alcoholcopolymers; celluloses, such as methyl celluloses, hydroxymethylcelluloses, and hydroxymethyl propyl celluloses; dextrans; alginates;sugars; molasses; polyvinyl pyrrolidones; polysaccharides; proteins;fats; oils; gum arables; gelatins; syrups; and starches. More examplescan be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,367 and U.S. Pat.Appln. No. US20100189693, incorporated herein by reference.

Various additives, such as adherents, dispersants, surfactants, andnutrient and buffer ingredients, can also be included in the seedtreatment formulation. Other seed treatment additives include, but arenot limited to, coating agents, wetting agents, buffering agents, andpolysaccharides. At least one agriculturally acceptable carrier may beadded to the seed treatment formulation such as water, solids or drypowders. The dry powders can be derived from a variety of materials suchas calcium carbonate, gypsum, vermiculite, talc, humus, activatedcharcoal, and various phosphorous compounds.

In some embodiments, the seed coating composition can comprise at leastone filler which is an organic or inorganic, natural or syntheticcomponent with which the active components are combined to facilitateits application onto the seed. In certain embodiments, the filler is aninert solid such as clays, natural or synthetic silicates, silica,resins, waxes, solid fertilizers (for example, ammonium salts), naturalsoil minerals, such as kaolins, clays, talc, lime, quartz, attapulgite,montmorillonite, bentonite or diatomaceous earths, or syntheticminerals, such as silica, alumina or silicates, in particular aluminumor magnesium silicates.

The seed treatment formulation may further include one or more of thefollowing ingredients: other pesticides, including compounds that actonly below the ground; fungicides, such as captan, thiram, metalaxyl,fludioxonil, oxadixyl, and isomers of each of those materials, and thelike; herbicides, including compounds selected from glyphosate,carbamates, thiocarbamates, acetamides, triazines, dinitroanilines,glycerol ethers, pyridazinones, uracils, phenoxys, ureas, and benzoicacids; herbicidal safeners such as benzoxazine, benzhydryl derivatives,N,N-diallyl dichloroacetamide, various dihaloacyl, oxazolidinyl andthiazolidinyl compounds, ethanone, naphthalic anhydride compounds, andoxime derivatives; chemical fertilizers; biological fertilizers; andbiocontrol agents such as other naturally-occurring or recombinantbacteria and fungi from the genera Rhizobium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas,Serratia, Trichoderma, Glomus, Gliocladium and mycorrhizal fungi. Theseingredients may be added as a separate layer on the seed oralternatively, may be added as part of the seed coating composition ofthe embodiments.

In some embodiments, the amount of the composition or other ingredientsused in the seed treatment should not inhibit germination of the seed,or cause phytotoxic damage to the seed.

The formulation that is used to treat the seed in the compositions ofthis application may be in the form of a suspension; emulsion; slurry ofparticles in an aqueous medium (e.g., water); wettable powder; wettablegranules (dry flowable); and dry granules. If formulated as a suspensionor slurry, the concentration of the active ingredient in the formulationis about 0.5% to about 99% by weight (w/w), 5%-40% or as otherwiseformulated by those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, other conventional inactive or inert ingredientsmay be incorporated into the seed treatment formulation. Such inertingredients include, but are not limited to, conventional stickingagents; dispersing agents such as methylcellulose, for example, serve ascombined dispersant/sticking agents for use in seed treatments;polyvinyl alcohol; lecithin, polymeric dispersants (e.g.,polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate); thickeners (e.g., clay thickenersto improve viscosity and reduce settling of particle suspensions);emulsion stabilizers; surfactants; antifreeze compounds (e.g., urea),dyes, colorants, and the like. Further inert ingredients useful in theembodiments of this application can be found in McCutcheon's, vol. 1,“Emulsifiers and Detergents,” MC Publishing Company, Glen Rock, N.J.,U.S.A., 1996. Additional inert ingredients useful in the embodiments ofthis application can be found in McCutcheon's, vol. 2, “FunctionalMaterials,” MC Publishing Company, Glen Rock, N.J., U.S.A., 1996.

The coating formulations of this application may be applied to seeds bya variety of methods, including, but not limited to, mixing in acontainer (e.g., a bottle or bag), mechanical application, tumbling,spraying, and immersion. A variety of active or inert material can beused for contacting seeds with the microbial compositions, such asconventional film-coating materials including but not limited towater-based film coating materials such as SEPIRET™ (Seppic, Inc., N.J.)and OPACOAT™ (Berwind Pharm. Services, P.A.)

The amount of a composition according to the embodiments of thisapplication that is used for the treatment of the seed will varydepending upon the type of seed and the type of active ingredients, butthe treatment will comprise contacting the seeds with an agriculturallyeffective amount of the inventive composition. As discussed herein, aneffective amount means that amount of the inventive composition that issufficient to affect beneficial or desired results. An effective amountcan be administered in one or more administrations.

In addition to the coating layer, the seed may be treated with one ormore of the following ingredients: other pesticides including fungicidesand herbicides; herbicidal safeners; fertilizers and/or biocontrolagents. These ingredients may be added as a separate layer oralternatively, may be added in the coating layer.

The seed coating formulations of the embodiments of this application maybe applied to the seeds using a variety of techniques and machines, suchas fluidized bed techniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seedtreaters, and drum coaters. Other methods, such as spouted beds may alsobe useful. The seeds may be pre-sized before coating. In someembodiments, after coating, the seeds are dried and then transferred toa sizing machine for sizing. Such procedures are known to a skilledartisan.

The microorganism-treated seeds may also be enveloped with a filmovercoating to protect the coating. Such overcoatings are known in theart and may be applied using fluidized bed and drum film coatingtechniques, as well as any other suitable methods known in the art.

In another embodiment, microbial strains, isolates, cultures, and/orcompositions of this application can be introduced onto a seed by use ofsolid matrix priming. For example, a quantity of an inventivecomposition can be mixed with a solid matrix material and then the seedcan be placed into contact with the solid matrix material for a periodto allow the composition to be introduced to the seed. The seed can thenoptionally be separated from the solid matrix material and stored orused, or the mixture of solid matrix material plus seed can be stored orplanted directly. Solid matrix materials which are useful in may includepolyacrylamide, starch, clay, silica, alumina, soil, sand, polyurea,polyacrylate, or any other material capable of absorbing or adsorbingthe composition for a time and releasing that composition into or ontothe seed. It is useful to make sure that the composition and the solidmatrix material are compatible with each other. For example, the solidmatrix material should be chosen so that it can release the compositionat a reasonable rate, for example over a period of minutes, hours, days,or months.

In some embodiments, any plant seed capable of germinating to form aplant may be treated with the compositions contemplated herein. Suitableseeds include, but are not limited to, those of cereals, coffee, colecrops, fiber crops, flowers, fruits, legume, oil crops, trees, tubercrops, vegetables, as well as other plants of the monocotyledonous, anddicotyledonous species. In some embodiments, crop seeds are coatedinclude, but are not limited to, bean, carrot, corn, cotton, grasses,lettuce, peanut, pepper, potato, rapeseed, rice, rye, Sorghum, soybean,sugarbeet, sunflower, tobacco, and tomato seeds. In certain embodiments,barley or wheat (spring wheat or winter wheat) seeds are coated with thepresent compositions.

F. Methods for Preparing the Composition

Cultures of the microorganisms may be prepared for use in thecompositions of the present application using techniques known in theart, including, but not limited to, standard static drying and liquidfermentation. Growth is commonly effected in a bioreactor. A bioreactormay be any appropriate shape or size for growing the microorganisms(PGPMs). A bioreactor may range in size and scale from 10 mL to litersto cubic meters and may be made of stainless steel or any otherappropriate material as known and used in the art. The bioreactor may bea batch type bioreactor, a fed batch type or a continuous-typebioreactor (e.g., a continuous stirred reactor). For example, abioreactor may be a chemostat as known and used in the art ofmicrobiology for growing and harvesting microorganisms. A bioreactor maybe obtained from any commercial supplier (See also Bioreactor SystemDesign, Asenjo & Merchuk, CRC Press, 1995). For small scale operations,a batch bioreactor may be used, for example, to test and develop newprocesses, and for processes that cannot be converted to continuousoperations.

Microorganisms or PGPMs grown in a bioreactor may be suspended orimmobilized. Growth in the bioreactor is generally under aerobicconditions at suitable temperatures and pH for growth. Cell growth canbe achieved at temperatures between 5 and 40° C., with the preferredtemperature being in the range of 15 to 30° C., 15 to 28° C., 20 to 30°C., or 15 to 25° C. The pH of the nutrient medium can vary between 4.0and 9.0, but the preferred operating range is usually slightly acidic toneutral at pH 4.0 to 7.0, or 4.5 to 6.5, or pH 5.0 to 6.0. Typically,maximal cell yield is obtained in 18-96 hours after inoculation.

Optimal conditions for the cultivation of the microorganisms of thisapplication may depend upon the particular strain. However, by virtue ofthe conditions applied in the selection process and general requirementsof most microorganisms, a person of ordinary skill in the art would beable to determine essential nutrients and conditions. The microorganismsor PGPMs would typically be grown in aerobic liquid cultures on mediawhich contain sources of carbon, nitrogen, and inorganic salts that canbe assimilated by the microorganism and supportive of efficient cellgrowth. Exemplary (but not limiting) carbon sources are hexoses such asglucose, but other sources that are readily assimilated such as aminoacids, may be substituted. Many inorganic and proteinaceous materialsmay be used as nitrogen sources in the growth process. Exemplary (butnot limiting) nitrogen sources are amino acids and urea but othersinclude gaseous ammonia, inorganic salts of nitrate and ammonium,vitamins, purines, pyrimidines, yeast extract, beef extract, proteosepeptone, soybean meal, hydrolysates of casein, distiller's solubles, andthe like. Among the inorganic minerals that can be incorporated into thenutrient medium are the customary salts capable of yielding calcium,zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium, copper, cobalt, potassium, sodium,molybdate, phosphate, sulfate, chloride, borate, and like ions. In someembodiments, potato dextrose liquid medium for fungal strains and R2Abroth premix for bacterial strains is used.

G. Methods for Using the Microbial Strains, Cultures, and/orCompositions

Other aspects provide a method for treating a plant seed, comprising astep of exposing or contacting said plant seed with a microbial strain,isolate, culture, and/or composition as described herein.

Other aspects provide a method for enhancing the growth or yield of aplant, said method comprising applying an effective amount of amicrobial strain, isolate, culture, and/or composition as describedherein to the plant or to the plant's surroundings. Another aspect,provides a method for preventing, inhibiting or treating the developmentof a pathogenic disease of a plant, said method comprising applying aneffective amount of a microbial strain, isolate, culture and/orcomposition as described herein to the plant or to the plant'ssurroundings. In some embodiments of the methods, the microbial strainis grown in a growth medium or soil of a host plant prior to orconcurrent with the host plant growth in said growth medium or soil. Insome embodiments, the microbial strain is established as an endophyte onsaid plant. In some embodiments of the above method, a microbial strain(PGPM) is applied to the plant (or a part thereof) or to the plant'ssurroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) in a culture ora composition at a concentration that is at least 2×, 5×, 10×, 100×,500×, or 1000× the concentration of the same microbial strain found ordetected in an untreated control plant (or a part thereof) or thecontrol plant's surroundings, respectively. In some embodiments, upon orafter application, the concentration of the microbial strain (PGPM) inthe treated plant (or a part thereof) or the plant's surroundings (e.g.,immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) is at least 2×, 5×, 10×, 100×,500×, or 1000× the concentration of the same microbial strain found ordetected in an untreated control plant (or a part thereof) or thecontrol plant's surroundings. In some embodiments of the above method, amicrobial strain (PGPM) is applied to the plant (or a part thereof) orto the plant's surroundings (e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere)in a culture or a composition at a concentration that is higher than1×10² CFU/mL. In some embodiments, concentration ranges from about 1×10²to about 1×10¹⁰ CFU/mL, such as the concentrations ranging from 1×10⁵ to1×10⁹ CFU/mL. In some embodiments, application of a microbial strain(PGPM) to the plant (or a part thereof) or to the plant's surroundings(e.g., immediate soil layer or rhizosphere) in a culture or acomposition at a concentration that is at least 1×10⁶ CFU/mL leads to aconcentration of the microbial strain in the treated plant, plant partor the plant's surroundings that is at least 2× the amount of the strainfound in the untreated plant or its surroundings. Table 1 summarizes themean and medians of the relative abundance of microbial strainsP0032_C7, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199,P0035_B2 or S2145, P0134_G7 or S2280, P0020_B1, S2370, S2375, S2445,S2333, S2329, S2376, S2327, S2330, P0047_A1 or S2284, P0147_D10 orS2291, S2423, S2278, P0132_A12 or S2420, P0132_C12, P0105_C5, P0154_H3,S1112, S2435, S2159_P0058_B9, P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, S2487,S2488, P0047_C1, S2382, P0140_D9, S2387, S2158, P0038_D2 or S2166,S2424, P0042_E1, P0042_A8 or S2167, S2293, S2421, P0154_G3,S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, P0140_C10 or S2300,P0047_E8, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0042_D5 or S2165, S2373, S2473, P0033_E1or S2177, P0173_H3 or S2404, S2384, S2385, S2521, P0032_A8 or S2181,P0049_E7, S2197, S2477, P0147_G10 or S2292, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0018_A1,P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_B12 or S2189, S2228, S2285, P0042_C2 or S2173,P0042_D10 or S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476, S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12,S2669, S2473, P00156_G2, S2651, S2652, S2653, S2654, S2655, S2656,S2668, S2644, and S2646 as found in untreated control corn plants andcorresponding plant rhizosphere. In some embodiments of the abovemethods, the concentration of a PGPM applied to the plant or detectedupon/after such application is at least 2×, 5×, 10×, 100×, 500×, or1000× the mean concentration for the same microbial strain as listed inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Summary of the means and medians of the relative abundance ofmicrobial strains from 274 soil samples: Relative % Abundance Isolatename Mean Median Std Dev P0032_C7, P0160_E1 or S2374 0.034 0.018 0.042P0048_B9 or S2198, P0050_F5 or S2199, 0.016 0.009 0.019 P0035_B2 orS2145, P0134_G7 or S2280 P0020_B1 0.106 0.008 0.224 S2370, S2375 0.0640.010 0.112 S2445 0.004 0.000 0.009 S2333 0.015 0.005 0.023 S2329 0.0690.042 0.115 S2376 0.613 0.278 0.674 S2327 0.030 0.009 0.047 S2330 0.0190.001 0.039 P0047_A1 or S2284, P0147_D10 or 0.025 0.016 0.031 S2291S2423 0.016 0.001 0.043 S2278, P0132_A12, S2420 0.070 0.011 0.153P0132_C12, P0105_C5, P0154_H3, 0.022 0.001 0.075 S2646 S1112 0.001 0.0000.004 S2435 0.003 0.000 0.018 S2159_P0058_B9 0.007 0.000 0.043P0018_A11, P0044_A5, P0047_E2, 0.068 0.052 0.061 S2487, S2488 P0047_C1,S2382 0.052 0.017 0.101 P0140_D9, S2387 0.034 0.005 0.074 S2158 0.0740.045 0.103 P0038_D2 or S2166, S2424 0.029 0.016 0.042 P0042_E1 0.0220.000 0.053 P0042_A8 or S2167 0.009 0.000 0.076 S2293 0.005 0.001 0.010S2421 0.002 0.000 0.005 P0154_G3 0.002 0.000 0.005 S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, 0.001 0.000 0.002 P0057_A3 or S2160 P0140_C10 or S23000.079 0.001 0.201 P0047_E8 0.050 0.009 0.099 P0157_G5 or S2303 0.0090.001 0.019 P0042_D5 or S2165 0.018 0.003 0.040 S2373 0.033 0.001 0.074S2437 0.015 0.003 0.027 P0033_E1 or S2177 0.007 0.002 0.014 P0173_H3 orS2404, S2384, S2385 0.010 0.004 0.015 S2521 0.011 0.004 0.024 P0032_A8or S2181, P0049_E7, S2197, 0.023 0.007 0.039 S2477, S2285 P0147_G10 orS2292 0.026 0.001 0.058 P0160_F7 or S2351 0.006 0.000 0.014 P0018_A10.009 0.002 0.013 P0042_B2 or S2168 0.005 0.000 0.009 P0042_B12 or S21890.001 0.000 0.003 S2228 0.023 0.002 0.072 P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10or 0.005 0.001 0.010 S2172, P0044_A3 or S2476 S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12, 0.002 0.000 0.008 S2669 S2473 0.004 0.000 0.018P0156_G2 0.000 0.000 0.001 S2651, S2652, S2653 0.018 0.026 0.008 S26540.020 0.056 0.000 S2655 0.029 0.039 0.011 S2656 0.002 0.003 0.000 S26680.007 0.022 0.000 S2644 0.027 0.043 0.010

In some embodiments of the above method, the microbial strain isestablished as an endophyte on the plant and the seed offspring of theplant after application. In some embodiments of this aspect, themicrobial endophyte introduced into the plant may be an endophyticmicroorganism having a plant growth-promoting activity, a biologicalcontrol activity, or a combination of both activities. A variety ofmethods previously found effective for the introduction of a microbialendophyte into cereal grass species are known in the art. Examples ofsuch methods include those described in U.S. Pat. Appl. No.20030195117A1, U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20010032343A1, and U.S. Pat. No.7,084,331, incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, themicrobial strain, isolate, culture, and/or composition is applied to oneor more places selected from the soil, a seed, a root, a flower, a leaf,a fruit, a portion of the plant or the whole plant. In this aspect, themicrobial strain, culture or composition may be delivered to the plantby any of the delivery system described herein.

Examples of phytopathogenic diseases that are suitable for applicationsof the methods and materials include, but are not limited to, diseasescaused by a broad range of pathogenic fungi. The methods of the presentembodiments are preferably applied against pathogenic fungi that areimportant or interesting for agriculture, horticulture, plant biomassfor the production of biofuel molecules and other chemicals, and/orforestry. In some embodiments, the pathogenic fungi are pathogenicPseudomonas species (e.g., Pseudomonas solanacearum), Xylellafastidiosa; Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas campestris, Erwiniaamylovora, Fusarium species, Phytophthora species (e.g., P. infestans),Botrytis species, Leptosphaeria species, powdery mildews (Ascomycota)and rusts (Basidiomycota), etc.

Non-limiting examples of plant pathogens of interest include, forinstance, Acremonium strictum, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Alternariaalternata, Alternaria solani, Aphanomyces euteiches, Aspergillusfumigatus, Athelia rolfsii, Aureobasidium pullulans, Bipolaris zeicola,Botrytis cinerea, Calonectria kyotensis, Cephalosporium maydis,Cercospora medicaginis, Cercospora sojina, Colletotrichum coccodes,Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum graminicola, Conielladiplodiella, Coprinopsis psychromorbida, Corynespora cassiicola,Curvularia pallescens, Cylindrocladium crotalariae, Diplocarponearlianum, Diplodia gossyina, Diplodia spp., Epicoccum nigrum, Erysiphedehor acearum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusariumoxysporum fsp. tuberosi, Fusarium proliferatum var. proliferatum,Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides, Ganoderma boninense,Geotrichum candidum, Glomerella tucumanensis, Guignardia bidwellii,Kabatiella zeae, Leptosphaerulina briosiana, Leptotrochila medicaginis,Macrophomina, Macrophomina phaseolina, Magnaporthe grisea, Magnaportheoryzae, Microsphaera manshurica, Monilinia fructicola, Mycosphaerellafijiensis, Mycosphaerella fragariae, Nigrospora oryzae, Ophiostoma ulmi,Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pellicularia sasakii (Rhizoctonia solani),Peronospora manshurica, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phoma foveata, Phomamedicaginis, Phomopsis longicolla, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthoraerythroseptica, Phytophthora fragariae, Phytophthora infestans,Phytophthora medicaginis, Phytophthora megasperma, Phytophthorapalmivora, Podosphaera leucotricha, Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Pucciniagraminis subsp. Tritici (UG99), Puccinia sorghi, Pyricularia grisea,Pyricularia oryzae, Pythium ultimum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Rhizoctoniasolani, Rhizoctonia zeae, Rosellinia sp., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum,Sclerotinina trifoliorum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Septoria glycines,Septoria lycopersici, Setomelanomma turcica, Sphaerotheca macularis,Spongospora subterranea, Stemphylium sp, Synchytrium endobioticum,Thecaphora (Angiosorus), Thielaviopsis, Tilletia indica, Trichodermaviride, Ustilago maydis, Verticillium albo-atrum, Verticillium dahliae,Verticillium dahliae, Xanthomonas axonopodis, or Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae.

In some embodiments, the methods and materials are useful in suppressingthe development of the pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus, Botrytiscinerea, Cerpospora betae, Colletotrichum sp., Curvularia spp., Fusariumsp., Ganoderma boninense, Geotrichum candidum, Gibberella sp.,Monographella sp., Mycosphaerella fijiensis, Phytophthora palmivora,Phytophthora ramorum, Penicillium sp., Pythium ultimum, Pythiumaphanidermatum, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus spp., Schizophyllum spp.,Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Stagnospora sp., Verticillium dahliae, orXanthomonas axonopodis. In some embodiments, the methods and materialsmay be used to suppress the development of several plant pathogens ofcommercial importance, including Fusarium graminearum NRRL-5883,Monographella nivalis ATCC MYA-3968, Gibberella zeae ATCC-16106,Stagnospora nodurum ATCC-26369, Colletotrichum graminicola ATCC-34167,and Penicillium sp. pathogens.

In some embodiments, the method for enhancing the growth or yield of aplant, including any of such methods descried herein, further comprisesa step of processing soil before planting a plant, a plant seed or aplant seedling in said soil. In some embodiments, the soil is fully orpartially sterilized in the soil processing step. In some embodiments,the soil processing method comprises making a microwave radiator moveinto soil, and thereafter radiating microwaves from the microwaveradiator to soil to be processed. Examples of such a method can befound, e.g., in US 20060283364. In some embodiments, the soil is fullyor partially sterilized by autoclaving (e.g., at 121° C., 1 h or othersimilar conditions) or by gamma (γ)-irradiation (50 kGy). In someembodiments, the soil is fully or partially sterilized by heating,steaming or gassing with ethylene oxide. In some embodiments, the soilis partially or fully sterilized by soil solarization. Soil solarizationis an environmentally friendly method of using solar power for soilprocessing (e.g., sterilization) by mulching the soil and covering itwith tarp, usually with a plastic (e.g. transparent polyethylene) cover,to trap solar energy. Other suitable soil processing methods are knownto those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the method for enhancing the growth or yield of aplant comprises (a) processing the soil before planting the plant, plantseed or seedling thereof in said soil; (b) planting the plant, plantseed or seedling thereof in the soil processed in step (a); and (3)applying an effective amount of a microbial strain, isolate, culture,and/or composition as described herein to the plant, plant seed orseedling, or surroundings thereof. In some embodiments, the soil isfully sterilized. In some embodiments, the soil is partially sterilized.In some embodiments, the soil is processed by autoclaving in step (a).

H. Delivery Systems

Microbial stains, isolates or cultures thereof, or microbialcompositions may be delivered through several means. In someembodiments, they are delivered by seed treatment, seed priming,seedling dip, soil application, foliar spray, fruit spray, hive insert,sucker treatment, sett treatment, and a multiple delivery system.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, cultures thereof orcompositions comprising the same, as described herein, may be deliveredby direct exposure or contact with a plant seed. In some embodiments,the seed can be coated with a microbial strain (or an isolate or aculture thereof) or a composition thereof. Seed treatment with PGPMs maybe effective against several plant diseases.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions, as described herein, can be delivered by direct exposureor contact with a plant seed during seed priming process. Priming withPGPMs may increase germination and improve seedling establishment. Suchpriming procedures may initiate the physiological process ofgermination, but prevents the emergence of plumule and radicle. It hasbeen recognized that initiation of the physiological process helps inthe establishment and proliferation of the PGPMs on the spermosphere.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures thereofor compositions comprising the same, as described herein, can bedelivered by seedling dip. Plant pathogens often enter host plantsthrough root. In some embodiments, protection of rhizosphere region byprior colonization with PGPMs prevents the establishment of ahost-parasite relationship.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions, as described herein, can be delivered by directapplication to soil. Soil is the repertoire of both beneficial andpathogenic microbes. In some embodiments, delivering PGPMs to soil cansuppress the establishment of pathogenic microbes.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions, as described herein, can be delivered by foliar spray orfruit spray. In some embodiments, delivering PGPMs directly to plantfoliage or fruit can suppress pathogenic microbes contributing tovarious foliar diseases or post-harvest diseases.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions are delivered by hive insert. Honey bees and bumble beesserve as a vector for the dispersal of biocontrol agents of diseases offlowering and fruit crops. In some embodiments, a dispenser can beattached to the hive and loaded with the PGPMs, optionally incombination with other desired agents.

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions are delivered by sucker treatment or sett treatment. PGPMscan plant a vital role in the management of soilborne diseases ofvegetatively propagated crops. The delivery of PGPMs varies dependingupon the crop. For crops such as banana, PGPMs may be delivered throughsucker treatment (e.g., sucker dipping). For crops such as sugarcane,PGPMs may be delivered through sett treatment (e.g., sett dipping).

In some embodiments, the microbial strains, isolates, cultures orcompositions are delivered by a multiple delivery system comprising twoor more of the delivery systems as described herein.

I. Plant Varieties and Seed Offspring Infected with a Microbial Strain

Also provided, in other aspects of the present embodiments is anartificially infected plant created by artificially introducing amicrobial endophyte disclosed hereininto the plant. In some embodimentsof this aspect, the microbial endophyte introduced into the plant may bean endophytic microorganism having a plant growth-promoting activity, abiological control activity, or a combination of both activities. Insome embodiments, the microbial strain is established as an endophyte inthe plant or a progeny thereof (e.g., the seed offspring) that isexposed to or treated with a microbial (endophytic) strain, isolate,culture or composition thereof as described herein. Accordingly, anotherembodiment provides a seed of the artificially infected plant,comprising the microbial endophyte disclosed herein.

A variety of methods previously found effective for the introduction ofa microbial endophyte into cereal grass species are known in the art.Examples of such methods include those described in U.S. Pat. Appl. No.20030195117A1, U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20010032343A1, and U.S. Pat. No.7,084,331, among others.

In some embodiments, after artificial infection, a DNA sequence of theisolated endophytic microorganism is amplified by PCR and the endophyteis confirmed by carrying out a homology search for the DNA sequenceamplified. In some embodiments, a foreign gene that expresses anidentifiable means is introduced into the above-mentioned endophyticmicroorganism, and the presence of the colonization of theabove-mentioned endophytic microorganism infecting the plant isconfirmed by the above-identifiable means using the foreign gene.

J. Suitable Plants

In principle, the methods and compositions of this application may bedeployed for any plant species. Monocotyledonous as well asdicotyledonous plant species are particularly suitable. The methods andcompositions are preferably used with plants that are important orinteresting for agriculture, horticulture, for the production of biomassused in producing liquid fuel molecules and other chemicals, and/orforestry.

In still another embodiment, the PGPM compositions, consortia andmethods disclosed herein can be used to treat transgenic seed. Atransgenic seed refers to the seed of plants containing at least oneheterologous gene that allows the expression of a polypeptide or proteinnot naturally found in the plant. The heterologous gene in transgenicseed can originate, for example, from microorganisms of the speciesBacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichodernma, Clavibacter,Glomus or Gliocladium.

Thus, embodiments of this application have use over a broad range ofplants, preferably higher plants pertaining to the classes ofAngiospermae and Gymnospermae. Plants of the subclasses of theDicotylodenae and the Monocotyledonae are particularly suitable.Dicotyledonous plants belong to the orders of the Aristochiales,Asterales, Batales, Campanulales, Capparales, Caryophyllales,Casuarinales, Celastrales, Cornales, Diapensales, Dilleniales,Dipsacales, Ebenales, Ericales, Eucomiales, Euphorbiales, Fabales,Fagales, Gentianales, Geraniales, Haloragales, Hamamelidales, Middles,Juglandales, Lamiales, Laurales, Lecythidales, Leitneriales,Magniolales, Malvales, Myricales, Myrtales, Nymphaeales, Papeverales,Piperales, Plantaginales, Plumb aginales, Podostemales, Polemoniales,Polygalales, Polygonales, Primulales, Proteales, Rafflesiales,Ranunculales, Rhamnales, Rosales, Rubiales, Salicales, Santales,Sapindales, Sarraceniaceae, Scrophulariales, Theales, Trochodendrales,Umbellales, Urticales, and Violates. Monocotyledonous plants belong tothe orders of the Alismatales, Arales, Arecales, Bromeliales,Commelinales, Cyclanthales, Cyperales, Eriocaulales, Hydrocharitales,Juncales, Lilliales, Najadales, Orchidales, Pandanales, Poales,Restionales, Triuridales, Typhales, and Zingiberales. Plants belongingto the class of the Gymnospermae are Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Gnetales,and Pinales.

Suitable species may include members of the genus Abelmoschus, Abies,Acer, Agrostis, Allium, Alstroemeria, Ananas, Andrographis, Andropogon,Artemisia, Arundo, Atropa, Berberis, Beta, Bixa, Brassica, Calendula,Camellia, Camptotheca, Cannabis, Capsicum, Carthamus, Catharanthus,Cephalotaxus, Chrysanthemum, Cinchona, Citrullus, Coffea, Colchicum,Coleus, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Cynodon, Datura, Dianthus, Digitalis,Dioscorea, Elaeis, Ephedra, Erianthus, Erythroxylum, Eucalyptus,Festuca, Fragaria, Galanthus, Glycine, Gossypium, Helianthus, Hevea,Hordeum, Hyoscyamus, Jatropha, Lactuca, Linum, Lolium, Lupinus,Lycopersicon, Lycopodium, Manihot, Medicago, Mentha, Miscanthus, Musa,Nicotiana, Oryza, Panicum, Papaver, Parthenium, Pennisetum, Petunia,Phalaris, Phleum, Pinus, Poa, Poinsettia, Populus, Rauwolfia, Ricinus,Rosa, Saccharum, Salix, Sanguinaria, Scopolia, Secale, Solanum, Sorghum,Spartina, Spinacea, Tanacetum, Taxus, Theobroma, Triticosecale,Triticum, Uniola, Veratrum, Vinca, Vitis, and Zea.

The methods and compositions may be used in plants that are important orinteresting for agriculture, horticulture, biomass for the production ofbiofuel molecules and other chemicals, and/or forestry. Non-limitingexamples include, for instance, Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Sorghumbicolor (Sorghum, sudangrass), Miscanthus giganteus (Miscanthus),Saccharum sp. (energycane), Populus balsamifera (poplar), Zea mays(corn), Glycine max (soybean), Brassica napus (canola), Triticumaestivum (wheat), Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), Oryza sativa (rice),Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Beta vulgaris(sugarbeet), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), Panicum spp., Sorghumspp., Miscanthus spp., Saccharum spp., Erianthus spp., Populus spp.,Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), Pennisetum purpureum (elephantgrass), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass), Cynodon dactylon(bermudagrass), Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), Spartina pectinata(prairie cord-grass), Arundo donax (giant reed), Secale cereale (rye),Salix spp. (willow), Eucalyptus spp. (Eucalyptus), Triticosecale spp.(Triticum—wheat×rye), Bambuseae (Bamboo), Carthamus tinctorius(safflower), Jatropha curcas (Jatropha), Ricinus communis (castor),Elaeis guineensis (oil palm), Phoenix dactylifera (date palm),Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (king palm), Syagrus romanzoffiana (queenpalm), Linum usitatissimum (flax), Brassica juncea, Manihot esculenta(cassaya), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Lactuca saliva (lettuce),Musa paradisiaca (banana), Solanum tuberosum (potato), Brassica oleracea(broccoli, cauliflower, brusselsprouts), Camellia sinensis (tea),Fragaria ananassa (strawberry), Theobroma cacao (cocoa), Coffea arabica(coffee), Vitis vinifera (grape), Ananas comosus (pineapple), Capsicumannum (hot & sweet pepper), Allium cepa (onion), Cucumis melo (melon),Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Cucurbita maxima (squash), Cucurbitamoschata (squash), Spinacea oleracea (spinach), Citrullus lanatus(watermelon), Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Solanum melongena(eggplant), Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), Papaver orientale, Taxusbaccata, Taxus brevifolia, Artemisia annua, Cannabis saliva, Camptothecaacuminate, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea, Cinchona officinalis,Coichicum autumnale, Veratrum californica, Digitalis lanata, Digitalispurpurea, Dioscorea spp., Andrographis paniculata, Atropa belladonna,Datura stomonium, Berberis spp., Cephalotaxus spp., Ephedra sinica,Ephedra spp., Erythroxylum coca, Galanthus wornorii, Scopolia spp.,Lycopodium serratum (Huperzia serrata), Lycopodium spp., Rauwolfiaserpentina, Rauwolfia spp., Sanguinaria canadensis, Hyoscyamus spp.,Calendula officinalis, Chrysanthemum parthenium, Coleus forskohlii,Tanacetum parthenium, Parthenium argentatum (guayule), Hevea spp.(rubber), Mentha spicata (mint), Mentha piperita (mint), Bixa orellana,Alstroemeria spp., Rosa spp. (rose), Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation),Petunia spp. (Petunia), Poinsettia pulcherrima (Poinsettia), Nicotianatabacum (tobacco), Lupinus albus (lupin), Uniola paniculata (oats),Agrostis spp. (bentgrass), Populus tremuloides (aspen), Pinus spp.(pine), Abies spp. (fir), Acer spp. (maple), Hordeum vulgare (barley),Poa pratensis (bluegrass), Lolium spp. (ryegrass), Phleum pratense(timothy), and conifers. Of interest are plants grown for energyproduction, so called energy crops, such as cellulose-based energy cropslike Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum,sudangrass), Miscanthus giganteus (Miscanthus), Saccharum sp.(energycane), Populus balsamifera (poplar), Andropogon gerardii (bigbluestem), Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass), Phalaris arundinacea(reed canarygrass), Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass), Festuca arundinacea(tall fescue), Spartina pectinata (prairie cord-grass), Medicago sativa(alfalfa), Arundo donax (giant reed), Secale cereale (rye), Salix spp.(willow), Eucalyptus spp. (Eucalyptus), Triticosecale spp.(Triticum—wheat×rye), and Bambuseae (Bamboo); and starch-based energycrops like Zea mays (corn) and Manihot esculenta (cassava); andsugar-based energy crops like Saccharum sp. (sugarcane), Beta vulgaris(sugarbeet), and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (sweet Sorghum); andbiofuel-producing energy crops like Glycine max (soybean), Brassicanapus (canola), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Carthamus tinctorius(safflower), Jatropha curcas (Jatropha), Ricinus communis (castor),Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm), Elaeis oleifera (American oilpalm), Cocos nucifera (coconut), Camelina sativa (wild flax), Pongamiapinnata (Pongam), Olea europaea (olive), Linum usitatissimum (flax),Crambe abyssinica (Abyssinian-kale), and Brassica juncea.

In some embodiments, the methods and compositions may be used in corn,including but not limited to, flour corn (Zea mays var. amylacea),popcorn (Zea mays var. everta), dent corn (Zea mays var. indentata),flint corn (Zea mays var. indurate), sweet corn (Zea mays var.saccharata and Zea mays var. rugosa), waxy corn (Zea mays var.ceratina), amylomaize (Zea mays), pod corn (Zea mays var. tunicataLarrañaga ex A. St. Hil.), and striped maize (Zea mays var. japonica).In some embodiments, the methods and compositions are used in sweetcorn.

This disclosure will be better understood from the Examples whichfollow. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thespecific methods and results discussed are merely illustrative of thedisclosure as described more fully in the embodiments.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Collection of Soil Samples and Sequencing of SoilMicroorganisms

Soil samples were collected from agricultural fields. For instance, soilsamples were collected from corn and soy fields on two continents.Samples were collected in Orbost, Victoria and Lowood, Queensland,Australia in February 2014, from Brentwood, Calif., USA in April 2014and from Lynn, Ind., USA in June 2014. The present applicationcontemplates PGPMs identified and isolated from any suitable types ofenvironmental materials, such as samples collected from, withoutlimitation, soil, rock, plants, animals, organic debris, water,aerosols, etc. From each field V3-V5 stage corn plants were selected,removed from the ground and soil collected. For each plant height andweight was recorded, soil attached to the roots were collected forcultivation and DNA extraction, and bulk soil surrounding the rootstructure was collected for soil chemistry analysis and archiving.

Root associated soil samples (about 0.5 g) were collected in triplicatefrom the rhizosphere of corn plants for DNA extraction and sequencing.Samples were placed into 2-mL screw-cap centrifuge tubes containing asterile ceramic bead matrix consisting of one 4-mm glass bead (GSM-40),1.0 g of 1.4- to 1.6-mm zirconium silicate beads (SLZ-15) and 0.75 g of0.070- to 0.125-mm zirconium silicate beads (BSLZ-1) obtained from CeroGlass (Columbia, Tenn.). Samples were kept cool and transported to thelaboratory for DNA extraction.

Samples were mechanically lysed using a FastPrep FP 120 instrument(Bio-101, Vista, Calif.) at 6.5 m/s for 45 s in 1 ml phosphate buffer(200 mM sodium phosphate, 200 mM NaCl, 20 mM EDTA, pH 8.0) and 10% SDS(sodium dodecyl sulfate). Lysed samples were centrifuged at 13,000×g for5 min at 4° C. to separate the supernatant with DNA and particulatematter. Supernatants were transferred into new 1.5 mL centrifuge tubesand further purified by adding 500 μl phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol(25:24:1) and centrifuging at 13,200×g for 5 min at room temperature.The separated aqueous phase containing the DNA was collected for finalpurification on QIAprep Plasmid Spin columns (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.)following manufacturer's instructions.

Genomic DNA was prepared for pyro-sequencing a 600-bp portion of the 16SrRNA gene covering hypervariable regions 5-8 (V5-V8). Samples wereamplified by PCR using universal fusion primers incorporating universalprimer pair TX9/1391R, the ‘A’ and ‘B’ 454 pyro-sequencing adapters anda sample specific variable length nucleotide barcode sequence(TX9-A-BCxx,5′-CCATCTCATCCCTGCGTGTCTCCGACTCAGxxxxxxGGATTAGAWACCCBGGTAGT-3′;1391R-B-Adap,5′-[BioTEG]CCTATCCCCTGTGTGCCTTGGCAGTCTCAGGACGGGCRGTGWGTRCA-3′). Allsamples were PCR cycle titrated to determine the lowest number of cyclesneeded for sufficient product and to reduce the incidence of PCR errors.Thermocycling conditions were as follows: initial 94° C. for 1 min,sample specific number of cycles of 94° C. for 30 s, 55° C. for 45 s and68° C. for 1 min, final extension at 68° C. for 1 min. After titration,a 200 μl reaction was prepared containing the following: 40 μl template(1 ng/μl), 20 μl HiFi Buffer (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), 10 μl 8 mMTX9-A-BCxx, 10 μl 8 mM 1391R-B-Adap, 10 μl 4 mM dNTP (NEB, Ipswich,Mass.), 8 μl 50 mM MgSO4 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), 8 μl 10 mg/mlBSA (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), 0.8 μl HiFi Platinum Taq(Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 93.2 μl sterile milliQ water. Eachreaction was amplified in 4×50 μl replicates to minimize PCR errors andcombined before purification. Amplicon products were purified on a 0.9%agarose gel and recovered with a QIAquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen,Valencia, Calif.) following manufacturer's instructions. Final productswere quantified using SYBR green (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.).

The barcoded amplicon products were multiplexed into libraries of 8 forsequencing using the standard 454 Life Sciences Lib-L emulsion PCRprotocol and Titanium chemistry (Margulies, M. et al. 2005. Genomesequencing in microfabricated high-density picolitre reactors. Nature437: 376-380) with the default 454 shotgun processing pipeline.

All sequences retained by the GS FLX Instrument quality filters weresubjected to additional in-house sorting by sample, trimming and qualitycontrol (QC) filters. Sequences passing the GS FLX signal processingstep were trimmed within the conserved region adjacent to V5V6 region ofthe 16S rRNA gene using a series of trimming rules. Trim targets weredefined using the expected barcode location relative to the primer endposition (5′ trim point), and a defined trimming region 230-290 basesfrom 5′ trim point (3′ trim point for V5V6). Sequences shorter than 120basepairs were rejected. Once the sequences are trimmed they werefiltered based on quality. All bases must have a minimum Q-score of 20(Q20); if a sequence had a base with a score less than Q20 the wholesequence was rejected. Also, 90% of the bases in a sequence must have ascore of Q25 or greater or the sequence is rejected. The sequencestrimmed that passed the quality filtering were then used to generate thedata tables for analysis.

Example 2 Identification of Microbial Consortia

The corn plants for sampling were at the V3-V5 stage of development andwere chosen based upon being either under- or over-performing plantsbased on visual inspection and comparison with neighboring plants.Under-performing plants were chosen based upon being equal or smaller insize to neighboring plants which collectively presented as smaller insize with the average size of plants across the entire field.Over-performing plants were chosen based upon being greater in size thanthe average size of plants across the general area or entire field.Another criterion for choosing an over-performing plant was that itsimmediate neighbors were also over-performing relative to the size ofplants in the general area or entire field. Plants were collected inpairs that each included an under- and over-performing plant that werelocated within 5 meters of one another. Between 6-18 pairs of plantswere collected from each field.

Prior to sampling, the height of each plant was determined by extendingthe upper leaves vertically to the highest point and measuring thislevel. The weight of the plant was determined post-sampling by removingthe entire above soil portion of the plant and transferring into asealed Ziploc quart size bag. The sealed bags were used to minimizevariability due to water evaporation from the plant post-harvest. Theweight of the plant was determined within approximately 1 hour aftercollection.

Corn root-associated soil samples were conducted by digging up the cornplants with a shovel and carefully excavating roots with a sterilestainless steel spatula. Soil clinging to the roots was removed directlyinto 2 ml centrifuge tubes containing beads for cell lysis.

DNA extraction and profiling were performed as described in Example 1.(See Patin et al. Microb. Ecol. 65:709-719, 2013).

In order to compare microbial communities associated with corn rootsfrom plants from different fields, the heights and weights of each plantcollected from the same field were normalized. A number of differentnormalization methods were deployed that included Z-scores,interpolation of the values between 0-1 and percent rank. The reason fornormalizing the values was to enable comparison of plants between fieldsthat, in some cases, were of different sizes as a result of differentplanting dates, soil types, weather, etc.

Approximately 100,000 V5V6 16S rRNA sequence tags were determined foreach sample. Pearson correlation values were determined for the percentabundance of each 16S rRNA sequence tag and the normalized corn plantweight (or height) across about 150 samples from 4 fields in Victoriaand Queensland, Australia comprising either sweet corn or field corn.Bacterial 16S rRNA sequence tags with the highest correlation to eitherplant weight or height were identified. The four 16S rRNA sequence tagswith the highest correlation to plant performance (normalized plantheight or weight) were selected to identify other microbes thatpotentially shared functional interactions and thus, constitutedconsortia. To identify potential consortium members, distribution of the16S rRNA sequence tags best correlated to plant performance werecompared with every other sequence tag in the data set to identifyco-distributing sequences. A ranked list of Pearson correlations ofthese comparisons was created and revealed candidate consortium membersfor each of the four plant performance-correlated sequence tags.

Cultivation screens were also performed from the same samples where theroot-associated microbial communities were resolved by 16S rRNA geneprofiling. Approximately 20,000 isolates were recovered by cultivatingon seven different solid medium formulations. The identity of theisolates was determined by PCR-amplifying a portion of the 16S rRNA genecomprising the v5-v8 variable regions. The sequences were trimmed to thesame V5V6 region as used for the 16S rRNA gene profiles conducted above.This step allowed for cross indexing between the cultivation and 16SrRNA gene profiling data.

Cultivated strains corresponding to the four best plant performancecorrelated sequence tags and their best co-distributing sequence tagswere recovered and tested for their ability to increase plantperformance.

Example 3 Isolation of Soil Microorganisms

Rhizosphere soil samples were collected in sterile vials and stored onice. Once transported back to the laboratory, samples were stored at 4°C. For isolation of microbial strains from soil samples, 0.5 gram ofsoil was transferred to a new, sterile vial, and diluted with 25 mL ofVL55 base medium (Sait et al, 2002). Diluted soil solutions were shakenat room temperature for 20 minutes on a plate shaker set to 180 rpm.Soil solutions were then sonicated using a probe sonicator set to 90%power output (Fisher Scientific FB120110). Following sonication, soilparticulates were allowed to settle and the supernatant solution,referred to as “soil extract”, was collected and transferred to sterilevial(s). The soil extract was serial diluted in VL55 base medium andplated onto solid media for isolation of single colonies.

All samples were plated onto a large media panel containing a variety ofcarbon sources. The majority of media used VL55 base with additionalgrowth substrates and solidified with 0.8% gellan. Carbon sources andfinal concentrations added to VL55 media included xylan (0.05%), pectin(0.05%), alginate (0.05%), D-glucose (0.5 mM), D-galactose (0.5 mM),D-xylose (0.5 mM), L-arabinose (0.5 mM), D-galacturonate (0.5 mM),D-glucuronate (0.5 mM), L-ascorbate (0.5 mM), D-gluconate (0.5 mM),n-acetyl-glucosamine (2 mM), an amino acid mixture (Hudson et al, 1989;Joseph et al, 2003), and 5%-10% sterile rumen fluid. Additional mediaincluded dilute nutrient broth (0.08 g/L) solidified with 0.8% gellan,M9 glucose agar (Teknova M1260), and a nitrogen-free medium containing0.2 g/L KH₂PO₄, 0.8 g/L K₂HPO₄, 0.2 g/L MgSO₄ 7H₂O, 0.1 g/L NaCl, 0.02g/L CaCl₂ 2H₂O, 0.005 g/L FeSO₄ 7H₂O, 0.002 g/L NaMoO₄ 2H₂O, 0.01 MnCl₂4H₂O, 2.0 g/L sodium lactate, 2.0 g/L sodium citrate, 2.0 g/L sucrose,2.0 g/L D-xylose, and 2.0 g/L malic acid. All versions of media werealso made with the antifungal compound nystatin (100 U/mL finalconcentration).

Isolation media plates were incubated at 26° C. for a period rangingfrom 1 to 12 weeks, and single colonies were picked using steriletoothpicks onto fresh plates in 96 well array format. Media plates witharrayed colonies were incubated at 26° C. for another 3-14 days. Arrayplate colonies were transferred to liquid media in deep well platesusing a sterile 96-pin transfer tool. Deep well plates contained 1 mL ofliquid versions of the media described above. Liquid plates wereincubated until visible cell growth was observed. DNA was then extractedfrom liquid cultures using a 96-well microbial DNA isolation kit (MPBio#119696200 or MoBio #10196) and subsequently used as a template for PCRto amplify the 16S rRNA gene. A lysozyme and proteinase K pretreatmentstep was used prior to the kit DNA extraction in order to increaseefficiency of cell lysis. Purified PCR products were sequenced forstrain identification. Isolate strains of interest were re-streaked ontonew plates and colony purified. DNA was extracted once more from colonypurified strains and the identity confirmed.

Example 4. Isolation of Plant Endophyte Microorganisms

Corn plants grown following the methods described in Example 7, wereharvested and used to isolate endophyte microorganisms.

The crown area of the corn plant, typically located an inch below thesoil surface, was cut under sterile conditions with a sterile scalpel.Immediately after sampling, the outside surface of the crown was washedwith a bleach (20%), tween 80 (0.1%) and deionized water (79.9%)solution and rinsed with sterilized deionized water or DulbeccoPhosphate Buffered saline solution (PBS). The crown was washed andrinsed twice, after which the first mm at the base of the crown wasremoved in a sterile petri dish using a sterile scalpel. Endophytemicroorganism were then isolated either by stamping the crown (seeMethod 1 below), or by plating a crown extract (see Method 2 below), ona selection of seven solid media plates from the media panel describedin Example 3.

Method 1: Crown Stamp

After removing the first mm of the crown, the newly exposed area waspressed directly (stamped) onto the surface of one of each solid mediaplate in the panel.

Method 2: Crown Extract

Under sterile conditions, the center section of the crown was slicedwith a sterile scalpel and cut up into small pieces. These pieces, alongwith a small volume of PBS (1 or 2 mL), were added to a sterilePotter-Elvehjem tissue grinder and homogenized with a minimum of 20strokes. The supernatant of this crown extract was then plated (100 μLof solution per plate) and spread evenly with either sterile glass beadsor a sterile disposable plastic spreader.

The plates were then incubated and microorganisms isolated following themethods described in Example 3.

The same or similar methods as described herein could be used forisolation of endophytes from other crop and plant types (Zinnel et. al.2002. Isolation and characterization of endophytic colonizing bacteriafrom agronomic crops and prairie plants. Applied and EnvironmentalMicrobiology 68(5): 2198-2208). The same or similar methods as describedherein could also be used for isolation of endophytes from other plantsections, including, for example, seeds, plant reproductive tissue,vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues, plant parts, or progeny of thenon-naturally occurring plant varieties.

Example 5 Biochemical Characteristics of the Microbial Isolates

The isolated microbes were further tested for properties important intheir interaction with plants. The studied properties includedproduction of IAA-Auxin, siderophores and ACC-Deaminase, nitrogenfixation and solubilization of inorganic phosphates. The results ofthese bacterial activity assays are presented below and in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Results of five biochemical assays. Taxon Internal IsolateBIOCHEMICAL ASSAYS Names IAA Sidero PO4 N-fix ACC P0047_E8 0.063 0 1 0 0P0057_A3 or S2160 0.125 1 1 1 0 P0105_C5 0.084 1 0 0 0 P0132_A12 0.084 03 0 0 P0132_C12 0.083 0 3 0 0 P0147_G10 or S2292 0.083 0 0 0 0 P0154_H30.079 1 1 0 0 P0156_G1 0.067 0 0 1 0 P0156_G2 0.079 0 0 1 1 P0157_G5 orS2303 0.147 0 0 — 0 P0160_E1 or S2374 0.107 0 0 1 1 P0160_F7 or S23510.099 0 1 1 1 P0173_H3 or S2404 0.076 — 0 1 1 S2142_P0061_E11 0.049 1 11 1 S2158 0.078 0 0 1 0 S2159_P0058_B9 0.112 1 1 2 0 S2161_P0054_E80.129 1 1 1 0 S2163_P0019_A12 0.051 1 3 1 1 S2164_P0054_F4 0.118 1 1 1 0S2228 0.070 1 0 0 0 S2275 0.077 1 2 0 0 S2278 0.078 1 2 0 0 S2370 0.0710 0 1 0 S2382 0.068 0 0 2 2 S2420 0.068 0 0 2 0 S2421 0.065 0 0 2 2S2423 0.083 0 0 3 1 S2424 0.069 0 0 0 2 S2437 0.088 0 0 0 0 S2477 0.0700 0 3 2 S2487 0.064 0 1 3 2 S2488 0.056 0 0 0 3 S2669 0.053 0 3 0 0S2375 0.077 0 0 1 1 S2653 0.096 0 0 0 0 S2654 0.077 0 0 1 1 S2656 0.1270 0 1 1 S2644 0.127 0 0 1 1 IAA: Indole Actic Acid production measuredby absorbance where value >0.082 is above background (see in bold).Sidero: Siderophore production measured by observation of color changeon a scale of 1-3 from minimal to significant. PO4: Inorganic phosphatesolubilization measured by observation of halo on a scale of 1-3 fromminimal to significant. N-fix: Molecular nitrogen fixation measured byobservation of growth on a scale of 1-3 from minimal to significant.ACC: ACC deaminase production measured by observation of growth on ascale of 1-3 from minimal to significant.Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) Production:

Auxins are a class of plant hormones that have been shown todramatically affect plant growth in a variety of ways. The main Auxinthat has been identified as a phytohormone is Indole 3-Acetic Acid,‘IAA’. IAA is often produced biosynthetically from Tryptophan. Thisanalysis used a liquid growth medium containing Tryptophan to quantifythe amount of IAA produced by our microbial isolates.

This assay was typically performed in standard 96-well plate format asdetailed herein. 250 μL of medium containing 80 mg/L Difco NutrientBroth and 100 mg/L Trytophan were transferred with a standard 96-channelpipette apparatus to each well of a 96-well cell culture plate.Bacterial isolate cultures were then transferred via a sterile 96-pintransfer tool and the resulting cultures were typically stored at 26° C.for 2-4 days. The culture plates were centrifuged (20° C., 4000 rpm, 10min) and subsequently, 33 μL of the supernatant solution were removedfrom each well and transferred to a clean 96-well assay plate. Each wellin this assay plate was mixed with 200 μL of a modified SalkowskyReagent (Appl. Environmental Microbio. 1995, 61, 793), held in the darkat room temperature for 10 minutes and subsequently analyzed by standardBeer-Lambert type absorbance-concentration analysis using 535 nmwavelength radiation.

The following isolates were positive for IAA production: P0160_E1 orS2374, P0132_A12, P0132_C12, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8,S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, P0157_G5 or S2303, P0160_F7 or S2351,P0147_G10 or S2292, S2437, S2423, P0105_C5, S2653, S2656 and 2644.

Inorganic Phosphate Solubilization:

The microbial isolates were screened for their ability to solubilizeinorganic phosphate using a modified PVK-Agarose-Calcium Phosphate solidmedium (Pikovskaya R.I. 1948 Mobilization of phosphorus in soil inconnection with the vital activity of some microbial species.Microbiologia 17: 362-370, and Nautiyal C. S. 1999 An efficientmicrobiological growth medium for screening phosphate solubilizingmicroorganisms (FEMS Microbiology Letters 170:265-270) consisted of thefollowing components.

PVK-Calcium Phosphate Medium with Agarose; Ingredients Per 1 L: 10 gGlucose, 5 g Ca₃(PO₄)₂, 0.5 g (NH₄)₂SO₄, 0.2 g NaCl, 0.1 g MgSO₄.7H₂O,0.2 g KCl, 0.5 g Yeast Extract, 0.002 g MnSO₄.H₂O, 0.002 g FeSO₄.7H₂O, 7g Agarose.

Initially, the resulting medium is opaque white due to the presence ofinsoluble calcium phosphate. After transfer of the isolates to thePVK-plate and subsequent storage at 26° C. for 2-3 weeks, the appearanceof a clear, translucent spot or ‘halo’ is indicative of the isolates'ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate. The phosphate solubilizingactivity of the bacteria was rated on a 1-3× system, where 3× indicatessignificant growth whereas 1× suggests minimal, yet observable phosphatesolubilization.

The following isolates were positive for phosphate solubilization:P0132_A12, P0132_C12, S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4,P0057_A3 or S2160, P0047_E8, P0160_F7 or S2351, S2142_P0061_E11,S2163_P0019_A12, S2278, S2275, S2487, P0154_H3 and S2669.

Siderophore Production:

The microbial isolates were screened for their ability to produceSiderophores by the method of Schwynn and Neilands' Chrome Azurol S(CAS) assay (Anal. Biochem. 1987, 160, 47). The medium consisted of 80mg/L Difco Nutrient Broth, 8 g/L Gellan Gum Powder and the CAS reagentdye solution. The blue-colored solid plates and CAS reagent solutionwere prepared as described by Schwyn et. al. (vide supra). The isolateswere transferred to the blue plates which were subsequently stored at26° C. for 2-3 weeks. Production of siderophores is indicated by a colorchange from blue to orange in a circular or ‘halo’ shape around thesiderophore producing microbes. The siderophore production activity ofthe bacteria was rated on a 1-3× system, where 3× indicates significantsiderophore production whereas 1× suggests minimal, yet observablesiderophore production.

The following isolates were positive for siderophore production:S2159_P0058_B9, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2161,S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, S2278, S2275, S222, P0105_C5, andP0154_H3.

Molecular Nitrogen Fixation:

Microbial isolates were transferred via a 96-pin transfer tool ontosolid medium plates with no intentionally added Nitrogen source. Thecomponents of the medium per liter are as follows: 0.2 g MgSO₄×7H₂O, 0.1g NaCl, 0.2 g KH₂PO₄, 0.8 g K₂HPO₄-3H2O, Gellan Gum Powder 8 g, 10 mL25% HCl, 1.5 g FeCl₂×4H₂O, 0.19 g CoCl₂×6H₂O, 0.1 g MnCl₂×4H₂O, 0.07 gZnCl₂, 6 mg H3BO₃, 36 mg Na₂MoO₄×2H₂O, 24 mg NiCl₂×6H₂O, 2 mgCuCl₂×2H₂O, 20 mg CaCl₂-2H₂O, 5 mg FeSO₄-7H₂O, 2 mg NaMoO₄-2H₂O, 10 mgMnCl₂-4H₂O, 2 g Sodium lactate (60% w/w aq.), 2 g Sodium citrate, 2 gsucrose, 2 g xylose, 2 g malic acid. CaCl₂ (10%, 5 mL) was added aftersterilization and prior to dispensing the medium onto the plates to aidin solidification of the plate media.

Normally, plates were stored at 26° C. for 2-3 weeks. The appearance ofany growth of the isolates is indicative of their ability to ‘fix’molecular nitrogen. The growth of the bacteria was rated on a 1-3×system, where 3× indicates significant growth whereas 1× suggestsminimal, yet observable growth.

The following isolates were positive for nitrogen fixation: P0160_E1 orS2374, S2159_P0058_B9, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3 or S2160, P0173_H3 orS2404, P0160_F7 or S2351, S2164_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12,S2161_P0054_E8, P0156_G2, P0156_G1, S2487, S2423, S2477, S2420, S2382,S2421, S2158, S2370, S2375, S2654, S2656, and S2644.

ACC Deaminase Production:

The ability of the microbial isolates to produce the ACC-DeaminaseEnzyme was carried out using Nitrogen Free medium plates (describedabove for the Nitrogen Fixation assay) which were subsequently coatedwith ACC. To each plate was added 1 mL of a 30 mM aqueous ACC solutionwhich was spread evenly around the plate surface with glass beads anddried at room temperature. Isolates were transferred to the ACC-coatedplates and the resulting plates were stored at 26° C. for 2-3 weeks; theappearance of any growth of the isolates is indicative of their abilityto metabolise ACC by the ACC-Deaminase enzyme. The growth of thebacteria was rated on a 1-3× system, where 3× indicates significantgrowth whereas 1× suggests minimal, yet observable growth.

The following isolates were ‘positive’ for ACC-Deaminase production:P0160_E1 or S2374, P0173_H3 or S2404, P0160_F7 or S2351,S2142_P0061_E11, S2163_P0019_A12, P0156_G2, S2488, S2487, S2477, S2382,S2421, S2424, S2423, S2375, S2654, S2656, and S2644.

Example 6 Germination and Seedling Early Growth Tests

Germination

Corn kernels (Test I untreated sweet corn; Test II—Blue River untreatedfield corn) were sterilized in a solution of 20% bleach for 5 minutes.Bleached corn was then washed 10× in sterile pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. Afinal wash was performed using sterile deionized water. Kernels werethen placed on pre-sterilized filter paper within a 150 mm petri dish(˜75 kernels per dish). Five milliliters of sterile deionized water wasadded to each petri dish to dampen the filter paper. Petri dishes werestored in a dark growth chamber for three days. On day three, sproutedkernels were sorted and the largest germinated sprouts were used forseedling growth in subsequent steps. In all steps, sterile tweezers wereused to transfer kernels and all work was carried out in a biosafetyhood.

Inoculation

Previously isolated and sequence confirmed microbial strains were grownto high cell density in shaking flasks at 26° C. In Test I, cells werecentrifuged and pellets were washed with sterile 1×M9 salts(Sigma-Aldrich M6030). Cells were then resuspended in M9 salts at adensity equal to an optical density of 0.1. For Test II, cells wereprepared in a similar manner but were washed and resuspended in asterile saline solution (NaCl 3.0 g/L, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.197 g/L, CaCl₂ 2H₂O0.176 g/L) to an optical density of 0.1.

Using sterile tweezers, germinated seeds were transferred to sterilePlantCon containers (MPBio #0926722) containing 100 mL of Murashige andSkoog (MS) medium (MPBio #0926233), solidified with 3 g/L Phytagel(Sigma-Aldrich P8169) (FIG. 6). Four seeds were transferred to eachcontainer for Test 1 and five seeds were transferred to each containerfor Test II. After the seeds were evenly spaced apart inside thePlantCon container, 100 μL of microbial strain treatments was pipettedirectly onto the center of each germinated seed. Each seed within acontainer received the same treatment. Control treatments received 100μL of buffer only. PlantCon covers were replaced and the containers weretransferred to a growth chamber which maintained a 26° C. constanttemperature and a light/dark cycle of 16 and 8 hours, respectively.

Measurements

On day seven, seedlings were removed from the containers and measured(FIG. 7). A single shoot length was recorded for each seedling. In TestI, a single root length was recorded for each seedling. In Test II, thethree longest roots per seedling were measured and sum calculated. Anaverage shoot length value and root length value was calculated from allseedlings in the same container (of the ones that grew). Additionally,the sum of shoot and root values was calculated for each plant andaverage values calculated for all plants that received the sametreatment. Average values per treatment for shoot length, root length,and shoot plus root length were plotted (FIGS. 8 and 9 for Test I andTest II, respectively). A two-sided T-Test was performed and treatmentsthat were significantly higher than the control (p<0.05) are indicatedon the plots.

Example 7 Enhancement of Biomass Production in Maize in GreenhouseGrowth Experiment

(1) Greenhouse Experiment 1

A greenhouse experiment was designed to evaluate if four microbialconsortia according to the present embodiments could enhancedevelopmental-stage (through V3-V5) plant growth and performance.

31 microbial isolates were obtained using the method of Example 3. Theseisolates were grown up in individual cultures before testing. Out of theoriginal 31 isolates, 26 isolates were used for the greenhouseexperiment. Four (4) microbial consortia (A-D) of the isolates (shownbelow) were tested. In each consortium, isolates were added so the finalconcentration of each member of the consortium was ˜1×10⁹ cells/ml.

Consortium A: P0035_B2 or S2145, P0032_C7, P0020_B1, P0047_A1 or S2284,P0032_A8 or S2181, P0049_E7, P0033_E1 or S2177.

Consortium B: P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172,P0044_A3 or S2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_D5 orS2165

Consortium C: P0038_D2 or S2166, P0018_A11, P0047_E2, P0018_A1,P0047_C1, P0042_E1, P0047_E8

Consortium D: S2142_P0061_E11, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3or S2160, S2159_P0058_B9, S2163_P0019_A12

Agricultural soil was acquired (Brentwood, Calif.) and divided into twoparts. The first was kept “live”, with the natural microbial communityfrom the field intact with nitrogen (NO₃ and NH₄), phosphorus (P) andpotassium (K) values as follows: NO₃ 41 ppm, NH₄ 4.7 ppm, P 30.0 ppm,and K 244 ppm. The second was sterilized, by autoclaving at 121° C. for60 min and had nitrogen (NO₃ and NH₄), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)values as follows: NO₃ 75 ppm, NH₄ 5.1 ppm, P 39.2 ppm, and K 242 ppm.The two experimental soil types (live and sterile) were homogenized bymechanical mixing, added to fill 30 1-gallon pots ⅔ full (15 pots persoil type), watered to saturation and left to drain. After draining, onesweet corn seed per pot was planted at uniform depth for all 30 pots.Treatments (Consortia A-D) and control (MS media) were set up intriplicate, with 1 ml added directly on top of each seed (concentration5×10⁹-7×10⁹ cells/ml). Treated seeds were covered with sterile sand(ASTM Graded Sand C778) and left to grow on a 16 hour light/8 hour darkcycle for 47 days. Plants were watered to maintain ˜60% saturationthroughout the experiment. Growth was evaluated by leaf count and weeklyphotographs comparing control and treatment plants (FIG. 2). At the endof the growth experiment, plant and root biomass was measured toevaluate performance (FIGS. 1A, 1B and 3).

The same or similar methods as described herein are used at largerscales, including outdoor field trials and with isolates or variousconsortia applied at different concentrations to a range of crop types.

(2) Greenhouse Experiment 2

A greenhouse experiment was designed to evaluate if consortia accordingto the present embodiments could enhance developmental-stage (throughV3-V5) plant growth and performance. The six consortia (E-J) and onesingle microbe treatment (S2376) were selected using the presentembodiments.

Microbial consortia members (15) were obtained using the method ofExample 3. These isolates were grown up in individual cultures beforebeing combined into the six consortia defined below. Isolates were addedso the final concentration of each member was ˜1×10⁹ cells/ml.

Consortium E: P0147_D10 or S2291, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0147_G10 or S2292.

Consortium F: P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303.

Consortium G: S2384, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280.

Consortium H: S2275, S2278.

Consortium I: S2373, S2375, P0157_G5 or S2303.

Consortium J: S2293, S2382.

Agricultural soil was acquired (Brentwood, Calif.) and used to plant twosweet corn seeds in 4″ containers. The nitrogen (NO₃ and NH₄),phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) values of the soil were as follows: NO₃73 ppm, NH₄ 1.6 ppm, P 34.3 ppm, and K 297 ppm. Treatments (ConsortiaE-J), Single strain S2376 and controls (MS media and no treatment: “NT”)were set up in quadruplicate, with 1 ml treatment added directly on topof each seed (concentration 1×10⁹ cells/ml). Treated seeds were coveredwith soil and left to grow on a 16 hour light/8 hour dark cycle for 30days. Plants were watered to maintain ˜60% saturation throughout theexperiment. Growth was evaluated by leaf count and photographs comparingcontrol and treatment plants (FIG. 4). At the end of the growthexperiment, plant and root biomass was measured to evaluate performance(FIG. 5).

(3) Greenhouse Experiment 3

A growth experiment was performed to evaluate if single isolatesaccording to the present embodiments could enhance developmental-stage(through V3-V5) plant growth and performance. Thirty-eight isolates wereselected for testing in 3 sets of experiments using the presentembodiments.

Corn seeds were grown in soil after application of various microbialand/or nutrient treatments. For two experiments agricultural soil wasacquired (Brentwood, Calif.) and mixed with 30% w/w plaster sandpurchased from a local building materials company (Shamrock's BuildingMaterials, San Rafael, Calif.). After mixing the soil-sand mix wassterilized by autoclaving in 3 kg batches at 121° C. for 4 hours withnitrogen (NO₃ and NH₄), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) values asfollows: NO₃ 88-100 ppm, NH₄ 0.5-0.6 ppm, P 24-25.2 ppm, and K 219-239ppm. For a third experiment the soil was a 60% Cache Creek sand: 20%clay: 20% peat mixture that was steamed to sterilize. Aftersterilization a small amount of field soil was added to create a soilmix that had a natural field microbial community.

In two experiments, 4″ pots were filled with sterile soil from fourdifferent batches to homogenize and then thoroughly wetted withlarge-grain-filtered, UV-sterilized water from the irrigation system. Abench-top drill press was used to create holes with uniform depth in thepots and one Blue River untreated field corn seed was placed pediceldown into the bottom of the hole with forceps to ensure uniform seedorientation. In a third experiment, 4″ pots were filled with the soilmix and one seed (Blue River untreated field corn) per pot were placedon their side and pressed 1.25″ into the dry soil with a wooden dowelfor consistent seed placement.

The 38 microbial isolates, obtained using the method of Example 3 or 4,were grown up in individual cultures to an optical density of 0.1(˜1×10⁸ cell/ml) and used as single treatments. 1 ml of the treatmentwas dispensed directly onto the seeds. In one experiment, one treatmentwas a commercially available microbial product (QuickRoots©, TJTechnologies Inc. “QR”) added to 8 pots following manufacturerinstructions. In two experiments, each treatment was added to 8 pots,with the control buffer (M9 media or saline) added to 20 pots and aftertreatment application the seed was covered with soil from around thehole using sterile spatulas. In a third experiment, the treatments wereadded to 5 sets of 50 pots. Each set of 50 pots also received 1 mL of anitrogen fertilizer amount (NH₄Cl: 2 mM, 0.2 mM, 0.02 mM, 0.002 mM and0), applied in a circle 1.5-2″ around the seed. The pots were thengently shaken to cover the seed with soil and watered by hand withreverse-osmosis sterilized water.

In all experiments the pots were assigned randomized locations in thegreenhouse. In all experiments stake emitters were placed in each potfor watering. In the first two experiments the water source waslarge-grain-filtered and UV-sterilized, and 15-20 ml was applied per pottwice per day. A photoperiod of 16 light:8 dark was maintained using1000 watt lights hung approximately 5 feet above the pots. Theexperiments continued until the signs of senescence in lower leaves (˜3weeks). In a third experiment the water source was deionized byreverse-osmosis and 15-20 ml was applied per pot twice per day. Theexperiment took place under ambient sunlight between Aug. 28 and Sep.12, 2014.

Growth was evaluated by height from the base of the stem to the tip ofthe longest leaf and chlorophyll using a Minolta SPAD meter during thecourse of the experiments. At the end of two experiments, all plantswere photographed by treatment and the plant mass and V-stage wereadditionally measured. Average values per treatment for plant mass,plant height, V-stage and chlorophyll were plotted (FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and13, respectively). A two-sided T-test was performed and treatments thatwere significantly higher than the control (p<0.05 or p<0.001) areindicated on the plots.

(4) Field Trial 1

A 0.8 acre field in the form of 6 rows 2200 feet long was divided into84 plots. The field's soil is designated as Capay Clay, Wet. Nitrogenlevels in the field were 30-50 ppm, Phosphorous was 20-70 ppm, andPotassium was 230-300 ppm according to soil analysis from several pointsin the field. In-furrow pre-plant fertilizer was applied, and a secondapplication was made when corn was about V4. Each plot consisted of 6rows spaced 33″ apart, and was 25′ long, with 1′ between each plot. Thetwo outer rows of the entire experimental section were left unseeded andreceived no treatments. The four remaining rows were seeded withfungicide-treated sweet corn variety 3674 and treated.

The four inner rows were first hoed to make a furrow, followed by handseeding placing one kernel every 7 inches along the furrow. Each plotwas seeded with 42 seeds per row for a total of 168 seeds per plot. Ofthe 84 total plots, 2 plots were given no treatment, 4 plots were givena control buffer treatment (sterile 1×M9 salts; Sigma-Aldrich M6030) and78 plots received microbial treatments in M9 buffer. One milliliter ofliquid treatment (consortia or single strains) was applied directly ontoeach seed and was then covered with soil by hand. After all planting wascompleted sprinklers were used to water in seeds. Since the field trialwas surrounded by grower's fields, the trial was treated the same as therest of the field for the entirety of the growing season, and washarvested Oct. 14, 2014. To eliminate the possibility of edge effectsaffecting outcome, only the 2 inner rows (of the 4 planted and treatedfor each plot) were harvested.

The liquid treatments consisted of 6 consortia and 5 single strains(P0147_D10 or S2291, P0140_C10 or S2300, S2384, S2373, S2376) eachapplied at three different cell concentrations. All microbial isolateswere obtained using the method of Example 3 and grown up in individualcultures. Consortia members were combined to so the final concentrationof each member was either: 1×10⁹, 1×10⁸ or 1×10⁷ cells/ml.

Consortium E: P0147_D10 or S2291, P0160_F7 or S2351, P0147_G10 or S2292.

Consortium F: P0140_C10 or S2300, S2387, P0157_G5 or S2303.

Consortium G: S2384, P0160_E1 or S2374, P0134_G7 or S2280.

Consortium H: S2275, S2278.

Consortium I: S2373, S2375, P0157_G5 or S2303.

Consortium J: S2293, S2382.

Tillers were counted on each corn plant one month after the seeds wereplanted. For each treatment and single strain, the number of tillers perplant is represented in percent relative to buffer (FIG. 14).Chlorophyll was measured from 10 plots at the start of tasseling (FIG.15). Mean chlorophyll content (SPAD units) and standard error of themean (SEM) is shown for four treatments and control (FIG. 13). Atharvest the number of marketable ears per acre was counted for eachtreatment. The percent yield increase relative to the control treatmentis shown in FIG. 16.

(5) Greenhouse Experiment 4

Additional growth experiments were performed using the methods describedin Example 7.1-7.3. Twenty-one single isolates and 23 syntheticconsortia were evaluated for plant growth and performance enhancingeffects in three sets of experiments. The results from 19 singleisolates and 11 consortia, defined below, are presented in FIGS. 17-19.Microbial treatment data is presented as z-scores, or standarddeviations, relative to the control treatment for plant biomass, plantabove soil height and chlorophyll reading of the youngest true leaf(i.e. highest v-stage leaf with a collar) at the time of harvest.

Consortium B: P0042_A8 or S2167, P0042_C2 or S2173, P0042_D10 or S2172,P0044_A3 or S2476, P0042_B12 or S2189, P0042_B2 or S2168, P0042_D5 orS2165.

Consortium D: S2142_P0061_E11, S2161_P0054_E8, S2164_P0054_F4, P0057_A3or S2160, S2159_P0058_B9, S2163_P0019_A12.

Consortium K: S2385 and S2373.

Consortium N: S2327 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 99 or 100), S2329 (or SEQ ID Nos.:97 or 98), S2330 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 101 or 102), S2332 (or SEQ ID Nos.:113, 114 or 115), S2333 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 95 or 96) and S2328 (or SEQ IDNos.: 162 or 163).

Consortium P: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83) and P0042_B2 orS2168 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 65 or 66).

Consortium R: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and P0042_B2 or S2168(or SEQ ID Nos.: 65 or 66).

Consortium S: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2421 (or SEQ IDNos.: 136 or 137).

Consortium T: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2330 (or SEQ IDNos.: 101 or 102).

Consortium AB: S2159_P0058_B9 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 18 or 19), S2161_P0054_E8(or SEQ ID Nos.: 36 or 37) and S2163_P0019_A12 (or SEQ ID Nos. 75 or76).

Consortium AC: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83), S2385 (or SEQ IDNos.: 51, 52 or 53), P0147_D10 or S2291 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 11 or 13),S2293 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 86 or 87), S2382 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 24 or 88),S2487 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 20 or 129), S2644 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 160 or 161),P0042_A8 or S2167 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 34 or 35), P0038_D2 or S2166 (or SEQID Nos.: 30 or 31), P0042_D10 or S2172 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 70, 73 or 74),S2159_P0058_B9 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 18 or 19), S2161_P0054_E8 (or SEQ IDNos.: 36 or 37), and S2163_P0019_A12 (or SEQ ID Nos. 75 or 76).Consortium AF: S2373 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 81, 82, or 83), S2385 (or SEQ IDNos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2646 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 16 or 164).

Example 8 Enhancement of Biomass Production in Arabidopsis in LaboratoryGrowth Experiments

(1) Experiment 1—Dicot Growth Test

Sterilized Arabidopsis Col-1 seeds were cold stratified in 0.1% agaroseat 4° C. for 7 days. Commercially available potting soil (Miracle-Gro®)was sterilized via autoclave and used to fill 72-plug trays. Trays werethan saturated with UV-sterile tap water and allowed to drain. Diluteseeds were then placed on the surface of sterile potting soil using asterile transfer pipette. Approximately 5-10 seeds were added to eachplug. Microbial isolates were obtained using the method of Example 3 andtreatments prepared as described in Example 7. Briefly, each strain wasfreshly grown to high cell density in its preferred medium, and thenwashed 1× in VL55 buffer. Strains were then combined according totreatments and resuspended in VL55 buffer at a total concentration of 1OD, or approximately 1×10⁹ cells/mL.

Treatments included 2 single strains (S2373 and S1112) and 5 consortia(defined below). 1 mL of each treatment was added to each plug. Controlplugs received 1 mL of VL55 buffer only. Plug trays were placed in agrowth chamber at 26° C. and at a 16/8 hour light/dark cycle. Plantswere watered 3 times per week using a bottom watering technique.

Arabidopsis seedlings were then allowed to grow for 20 days. At thispoint, plugs with more than one seedling were pruned so that the largestseedling remained. Smaller seedlings are referred to as “secondaryseedlings”. Freshly trimmed secondary seedlings were weighed for biomassmeasurement. The average total biomass per plug for each treatment wascalculated and compared to controls (FIG. 20). On day 25, the last andlargest seedling was sampled and weighed (“primary seedling”). Averagebiomass of the single plants were compared to the controls (FIG. 21).

Two tailed T-test using unequal variance was used to assess statisticalsignificance. The results of secondary and primary seedling biomasscompared to control are shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 for significanttreatments (p<0.05; indicated with an asterisk).

Consortium I: S2373, S2375, P0157_G5 or S2303.

Consortium J: S2293, S2382.

Consortium K: S2385 and S2373.

Consortium S: S2385 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 51, 52 or 53) and S2421 (or SEQ IDNos.: 136 or 137).

Consortium AB: S2159_P0058_B9 (or SEQ ID Nos.: 18 or 19), S2161_P0054_E8(or SEQ ID Nos.: 36 or 37) and S2163_P0019_A12 (or SEQ ID Nos. 75 or76).

(2) Experiment 2—Triple-Stress Assay

Arabidopsis plants were grown in a combination of three abiotic stresseswith and without microbial treatments. Specifically, plants were grownin conditions of simultaneous drought stress, heat stress and high lightstress. One single strain treatments (S2373) and three consortia(Consortium K, I and S) were evaluated for positive growth and/orpositive decay parameters (i.e. increased resistance to stressors) asdescribed below.

Methods:

Phase 1 Screen:

Wild type columbia line Arabidopsis seeds ware soaked in water andincubated at 4° C. for 3 days in the dark. Cold shocked seeds wereplanted in controlled density and spacing on soil. Specifically, 9plants in a 3×3 grid were grown per 5.5 inch square pot with 8 pots perflat. For microbiological treatment testing, one flat consisted of 4pots treated and 4 pots of non-treated seeds. Thus 36 treated plants aredirectly compared to 36 untreated plants.

For 14 days, plants were grown under non-stressed conditions involving:(a) Soil: Metromix 360; (b) Fertilizer: Osmocote and Peter's; (c) LightRegime: 16 hours light/8 hours dark; (d) Light Intensity: 150 μE; (e)Temperature Regime: 22 C day/20 C night; and (f) Humidity: 50% RelativeHumidity. On the last day of non-stressed growth, flats were brought to100% soil water capacity and imaged and analyzed to get total green areapixel count using a LemnaTec Scanalyzer.

The flats were then transferred to “triple stress” conditions consistingof: (a) no additional watering; (b) Light Regime: 16 hours light/8 hoursdark; (c) Light Intensity: 350 μE (d) Temperature Regime: 22° C. daywith a 32° C. pulse for 4 hours in the middle of the day/20° C. night;and (f) Humidity: 50% Relative Humidity. Flats under these conditionswere imaged daily for 14 days.

From the LemnaTec data, growth area, growth slope and maximum day area,decay area and decay slope are determined and compared to controltreatments. Parameters for microbe treatments which have a reproducibleeffect relative to the control treatments are considered to “trendpositive” and move on to further testing. Results are shown in Table 3,where “+” indicates a treatment had a positive effect on the parameter.

TABLE 3 Results from LemnaTec growth analysis Parameter S2373 K I SGrowth Area + − + − Growth slope + + + + Max Day Area + − + − DecayArea + − − − Decay Slope + − − −

Example 9 Suppression of Plant Pathogens by Microbe Treatments

Two single strains (S2373 and S1112) and three consortia (K, I and S)were tested for suppression response to the plant pathogen Pythiumaphanidermatum in a soybean assay. Assays were performed in a 24 wellround bottom microplate (Whatman/GE, Cat #7701-5102). Prior to assaysetup, each well was filled with 3 ml of a sand:soil (1:1) mixture andautoclaved. Zoospores were harvested from 5-7 day old Pythiumaphanidermatum V8 agar plates following successive washing with water.Released zoospores were counted with a haemocytometer and resuspended toa final concentration of 50 zoospores/ml in sterile water. Twelvereplicates were run per treatment with delivery of assay components perwell as indicated below in Table 4.

Following assay set up, each plate was sealed in a plastic bag andincubated overnight at 25° C. in the dark. At this time, each wellreceived a single soybean seed which was covered with an additional 3 mlof sand/soil mixture and was watered with 1.2 ml sterile water. Plateswere then placed in a tray containing moistened paper towels, coveredwith a plastic dome and placed in a plant growth chamber incubator at25° C. with 16 hour light:8 hour dark cycle.

Plants were scored at 6 days following seed planting for percentgermination or emergence (FIG. 22), as well as seedling height/vigorusing the scale below with the total score for all replicates recorded(FIG. 23; max score of 36):

0: no emergence or extreme rotting of emerged cotyledons;

1: <30% height relative to no pathogen control; v. poor root massrelative to control;

2: 30-60% height relative to no pathogen control; poor root massrelative to control; and

3: >60% height relative to no pathogen control; good root mass relativeto control.

TABLE 4 Assay composition per treatment. Microbe (1.5 × 10⁹ P.aphanidermatum Treatment Buffer cfu/ml) H20 (50 zoospores/ml) Bufferonly + water 0.125 none 0.875 none Buffer only + pathogen 0.125 none0.375 0.50 S2373 + water 0.125 0.875 none Consortia K + water 0.1250.875 none Consortia I + water 0.125 0.875 none S1112 + water 0.1250.875 none Consortia S + water 0.125 0.875 none S2373 + pathogen 0.1250.375 0.50 Consortia K + pathogen 0.125 0.375 0.50 Consortia I +pathogen 0.125 0.375 0.50 S1112 + pathogen 0.125 0.375 0.50 ConsortiaS + pathogen 0.125 0.375 0.50

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising a plant seed and one ormore microbial strains, wherein the one or more microbial strain is ofthe species Enterobacter mori, and wherein the 16S sequence of theEnterobacter mori microbial strain comprises the nucleic acid sequenceset forth in SEQ ID No:
 18. 2. The composition of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one additional different microbial strain, whereinthe 16S sequence of the at least one additional different microbialstrain comprises any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-17, 19-164.
 3. The compositionof claim 1, further comprising at least two additional differentmicrobial strains wherein the 16S sequence of each of the at least twoadditional different microbial strains comprises any one of SEQ ID Nos:1-17, 19-164.
 4. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at leastthree additional different microbial strains wherein the 16S sequence ofeach of the at least three additional different microbial strainscomprises any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-17, 19-164.
 5. The composition ofclaim 1, further comprising an agriculturally effective amount of acompound or composition selected from the group consisting of anutrient, a fertilizer, an acaricide, a bactericide, a fungicide, aninsecticide, a microbicide, a nematicide, and a pesticide.
 6. Thecomposition of claim 1, further comprising a carrier.
 7. The compositionof claim 6, wherein said carrier is selected from peat, turf, talc,lignite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, zeolite, montmorillonite, alginate,press mud, sawdust, perlite, mica, silicas, quartz powder, calciumbentonite, vermiculite and mixtures thereof.
 8. The composition of claim1, wherein the composition is prepared as a formulation selected fromthe group consisting of an emulsion, a colloid, a dust, a granule, apellet, a powder, a spray, and a solution.
 9. A plant seed having acoating comprising the composition of claim
 1. 10. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the microbial strain of the species Enterobacter mori,is strain S2159, NRRL Deposit No. B-67092.